Ageist: meaning, definitions and examples

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ageist

 

[ ˈeɪdʒɪst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

attitudes towards age

Ageist refers to having or showing a prejudice against individuals based on their age, typically against older adults. This term encapsulates discriminatory behaviors or beliefs that think of older individuals as less capable or valuable. Ageist attitudes can manifest in various forms, including stereotypes, social norms, and exclusion in workplaces or communities. It highlights a societal issue where older generations may be marginalized or overlooked.

Synonyms

age-bias, age-discriminatory, age-prejudiced

Examples of usage

  • Ageist policies in the workplace limit opportunities for older employees.
  • The film critiques ageist attitudes prevalent in modern society.
  • She faced ageist comments from younger colleagues.

Translations

Translations of the word "ageist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 discriminatório com relação à idade

🇮🇳 उम्र के प्रति भेदभाव करने वाला

🇩🇪 altersdiskriminierend

🇮🇩 diskriminatif terhadap usia

🇺🇦 дискримінаційний за віком

🇵🇱 dyskryminujący ze względu na wiek

🇯🇵 年齢差別的な

🇫🇷 discriminatoire en raison de l'âge

🇪🇸 discriminatorio por edad

🇹🇷 yaşa dayalı ayrımcı

🇰🇷 연령 차별적인

🇸🇦 تمييز على أساس العمر

🇨🇿 diskriminační na základě věku

🇸🇰 diskriminačný na základe veku

🇨🇳 基于年龄的歧视

🇸🇮 diskriminatoren glede na starost

🇮🇸 aldurshlutfalls

🇰🇿 жас бойынша кемсітушілік

🇬🇪 ასაკის მიხედვით დისკრიმინაციული

🇦🇿 yaşa görə ayrı-seçkilik

🇲🇽 discriminatorio por edad

Word origin

The term 'ageist' emerged in the late 20th century, primarily attributed to the social gerontologist Robert Butler in 1969. He coined the term in an article in which he highlighted the discrimination faced by older adults. The prefix 'age' indicates a relation to age, while the suffix '-ist' denotes a person who practices a specific belief or ideology; thus, ageist refers to someone who holds age-oriented prejudices. As society began to recognize the contributions of older individuals, discussions around ageism intensified. The growing awareness of ageist attitudes highlighted the need for inclusivity and respect across all age groups. Since its introduction, the term has been increasingly used in academic discussions, media, and advocacy, focusing on the rights and dignities of older adults, challenging stereotypes associated with aging in various cultures.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,296, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.