Word
sexist
Phoneticssex·ist, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛksɪst/
UK/sˈɛksɪst/
Definitions
01discriminatory
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. treating someone unfairly or thinking they are less capable because of their sex.
adj. characterised by or showing prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.
“The manager was criticised for making sexist comments about his female employees.”
“The company faced a lawsuit after several employees reported a sexist culture that systematically blocked women from reaching executive positions.”
Usage
Commonly modifies nouns like 'remark', 'attitude', 'joke', or 'policy'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a prejudiced person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who believes that one sex is better than the other or treats people unfairly based on sex.
n. a person who discriminates on the grounds of sex or subscribes to sexist ideologies.
“He didn't realise he was being a sexist when he assumed she couldn't fix the car.”
“The politician was labelled a sexist by the press after he dismissed his opponent's arguments as mere emotional outbursts.”
Usage
Often used as a pejorative label in social and political discourse.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“We also tested whether more sexist views predicted support for these bans.” “The article titled Why We Can’t Forget Meg White – And the Sexist Way We Talked About Her was published in 2016, not 2006 as an earlier version stated.” “Lots and lots of things in life are sexist; the phrase “nepo baby”, let us be clear, is not one of them.” Etymology
From sex + -ist, after sexism.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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