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

Despite that, Black and brown drivers are pulled over at higher rates because of racial profiling, Preston said. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2024

Yet the China Initiative was highly controversial, as academics, universities, and advocacy groups accused the program of racial profiling and bias against researchers of Chinese descent. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune Asia, 4 July 2024

Preston Lord's dad speaks on police inaction Mitchell compared a potential consent decree to existing court oversight of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which came about when a racial profiling lawsuit led to the appointment of an external monitor who reports to a federal judge. —Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 2 July 2024

Opponents called the legislation unconstitutional and would lead to racial profiling, separating children from parents and incur several millions of dollars in additional policing costs that the state can ill afford. —CBS News, 4 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

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