# racism

/ˈɹeɪˌsɪzəm/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪsɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/racism
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. prejudice or discrimination

noun · CEFR B2

unfair treatment or dislike of people because they belong to a different race or ethnic group.

For teachers: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

- The organization works hard to fight racism in local schools and workplaces.
- The report highlighted how casual racism in the workplace can create a hostile environment for minority employees even when it is not overt.

### 2. the belief in racial hierarchy

noun · CEFR B2

the false belief that some human races are naturally better, smarter, or more capable than others.

For teachers: the ideology or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement.

- Scientific racism was used in the past to justify very cruel laws.
- The pseudo-scientific theories of racism that emerged in the nineteenth century were used to provide a moral veneer for colonial expansion.

### 3. systemic or institutional

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

laws, rules, or social systems that give advantages to one race while treating others unfairly.

For teachers: the collective failure of an organisation or society to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin.

- The protesters called for an end to systemic racism in the legal system.
- Sociologists argue that systemic racism can persist through housing and education policies even in the absence of individual prejudice.

Usage: Often used with modifiers like 'institutional', 'systemic', or 'structural'.

## Examples

- The organization works hard to fight racism in the workplace.
- The new law aims to address systemic racism by ensuring equal access to housing and education for all citizens.
- Sociologists distinguish between individual acts of prejudice and structural racism, which involves historical patterns of exclusion embedded within a society's legal and economic frameworks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.