equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

Examples of equal protection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bergman argued that transgender-identifying people already have equal protection under existing laws. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 1 May 2025

That a government policy made nonwhites worse off relative to whites was not enough to show a denial of equal protection. —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025

Indeed, teachers and students in private schools do not have the constitutional rights related to free speech, search and seizure, due process and equal protection. —Suzanne Eckes, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025

And one that allows not only pro-life advocates, but countless others, to enjoy equal protection under the law. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for equal protection

• interconnection
• microinjection
• superinfection
• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection

Legal Definition

equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

called also equal protection of the law

see also rational basis test, strict scrutiny, suspect classification

Note: The equal protection requirement of the Constitution protects against legislation that affects individuals differently without a rational basis for doing so. In reviewing claims of denial of equal protection, a court will uphold legislation that has a rational basis unless the legislation affects a fundamental right or involves a suspect classification, such as race. In such a case, the court will use a strict scrutiny standard of review and will strike down legislation that does not show a compelling need for discriminating.