profiling

noun pro·fil·ing \ ˈprō-ˌfī-liŋ \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of profiling

: 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

See profiling defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of profiling from the Web

In 2015, the county’s only black commissioner reported what appeared to be racial profiling by an undercover officer — a complaint that elicited a shrug from her fellow commissioners.

— aaron gell, Longreads, "Did Brian Easley Have to Die?," 9 Apr. 2018
Ramirez said the city needs to train the new officers who fill those vacancies to avoid racial profiling.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego council candidates debate graffiti, homelessness, police officer shortage," 5 Apr. 2018
About two dozen representatives from civil rights groups and relatives of those killed by police rallied before a meeting of the state's anti-police racial profiling board in Compton Thursday morning.

— liam dillon, latimes.com, "Lawmakers again take aim at California's tight lid on police shooting investigations," 30 Mar. 2018
Photo: Christian Charisius/DPA/ZUMA PRESS A former subcontractor said Mr. Nix’s group on multiple occasions sought help in the later stages of a campaign from outside firms that didn’t use personality profiling.

— rebecca ballhaus, WSJ, "Cambridge Analytica CEO Promised More Than He Delivered, Clients Say," 28 Mar. 2018
The firm is stocked with researchers out of the University of Cambridge, and the company allegedly drew inspiration for its psychological profiling of social media users from research conducted at the storied college.

— andy rosen, BostonGlobe.com, "No, Cambridge Analytica is not a local company," 20 Mar. 2018
Twitter @jmetr22b Was racial profiling behind ATF stash house stings?

— jason meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Federal judge finds ATF drug stash house stings distasteful but not racially biased," 12 Mar. 2018
From the racial profiling, people don't understand.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Financially stronger Freedom Center welcomes new president Dion Brown," 5 Mar. 2018
Douglas, who pioneered criminal personality profiling during his 25-year career with the FBI, is one of a number of profilers working on the case, Plumer said.

— amy rinard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "FBI profile: Fr. Alfred Kunz's killer may see act as dream," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'profiling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of profiling

1980

PROFILING Defined for English Language Learners

profiling

noun

Definition of profiling for English Language Learners

: the act or process of learning information about someone based on what is already known
: the act or practice of regarding particular people as more likely to commit crimes because of their appearance, race, etc.

Law Dictionary

profiling

noun pro·fil·ing

legal Definition of profiling

: 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

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Britannica English: Translation of profiling for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about profiling

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profiling

Definition of profiling

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PROFILING Defined for English Language Learners

profiling

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profiling

legal Definition of profiling

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