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

The majority said that the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection of the law required every vote to be treated alike. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025

Asked in 2010 to name the most important part of the U.S. Constitution, Souter singled out the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 9 May 2025

Myers wrote that votes couldn't be removed six months after Election Day without damaging due process or equal protection rights of the affected residents. —Kate Plummer shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025

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