sexism

noun sex·ism \ ˈsek-ˌsi-zəm \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of sexism

1 : prejudice or discrimination based on sex; especially : discrimination against women

2 : behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex

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sexist

play \ˈsek-sist\ adjective or noun

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Examples of sexism in a Sentence

the problem of sexism in language

Recent Examples of sexism from the Web

More: After Uber, more women speak up about Silicon Valley sexismUber pointed to changes it's made since 2013 when the claims begin.

— elizabeth weise, USA TODAY, "Uber agrees to pay $10 million in class action discrimination suit," 27 Mar. 2018
Lambert is a case in point about how sexism dictates the makeup of country radio.

— dan deluca, Philly.com, "Is 'Woke Country' a thing? Is there a #MeToo moment happening in country music?," 22 Mar. 2018
The only detour into sexism that feels truly necessary is the story of Gail Getty (Hilary Swank), Paul III’s mother, who is desperate to get her son back after he is kidnapped.

— ariana romero, refinery29.com, "Trust Is A Lush Look At Rich People Problems & Misogyny," 20 Mar. 2018
For contemporary audiences, the abuse and sexism within the text are considered far too patriarchal and misogynistic for those up to speed with the #MeToo or #TimesUp movements, or even those who value common decency.

— richard chang, latimes.com, "‘Shrew!’ flips a problematic play on its head," 15 Mar. 2018
Women who work at the state Capitol have accused men there of harassment and abuse, and have started a related campaign to address bad behavior and sexism in the workplace.

— marcos bretón, sacbee, "She was trying to clean the hotel room. But the naked man had other plans," 6 Feb. 2018
Perhaps the most high-profile example of how such misconduct can destroy value is Uber, the ride-sharing company rocked by allegations of harassment and sexism early last year.

— michal lev-ram, Fortune, "How Investors Like Melinda Gates Are Helping These VCs Tackle Tech’s Bro Problem," 23 Jan. 2018
Of course, patriarchy and sexism are not the domain of any one culture or religion.

— omer aziz, New Republic, "Aziz Ansari and Me," 19 Jan. 2018
Famous men can contribute to this effort by continuing to do the work of dismantling systemic sexism knowing that there may be no personal or professional benefit.

— cate young, Cosmopolitan, "Aziz Ansari and the Struggle to Trust the "Feminist" Men of Hollywood," 18 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of sexism

¹sex + -ism (as in racism)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1963

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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SEXISM Defined for English Language Learners

sexism

noun

Definition of sexism for English Language Learners

: unfair treatment of people because of their sex; especially : unfair treatment of women

SEXISM Defined for Kids

sexism

noun sex·ism \ ˈsek-ˌsi-zəm \

Definition of sexism for Students

: distinction and especially unjust distinction based on gender and made against one person or group (as women) in favor of another

Learn More about sexism

See words that rhyme with sexism Spanish Central: Translation of sexism Nglish: Translation of sexism for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sexism for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sexism

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sexist

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sexist

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