profiling

noun

pro·​fil·​ing ˈprō-ˌfī-liŋ 

: the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies

consumer profiling

specifically : the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior

racial profiling

Examples of profiling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By relying on racial profiling rather than targeting violent criminals, these strategies prioritize numbers over actual public safety. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

What a discovery of ‘dark proteins’ could mean Since ribosome profiling was invented in 2009, scientists have used the method to understand the inner workings of model organisms like bacteria, yeast, and mice. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 7 May 2026

As a result of racial profiling, people of color are pulled over for pretextual stops and subjected to searches at disproportionate rates, while serious traffic violations go uninvestigated. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026

The National Security Agency also developed a behavioral profiling program, SKYNET, to identify Al Qaeda couriers in Afghanistan. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for profiling

• beguiling
• compiling
• refiling
• reviling
• stockpiling
• unsmiling
• filing
• piling
• smiling
• styling
• tiling
• reconciling

Legal Definition

profiling

noun

pro·​fil·​ing

: the practice of singling out persons for law enforcement procedures on the basis of predetermined characteristics

specifically : the discriminatory practice of profiling based on race or ethnicity

racial profiling