Ageisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Discriminatory practices that target individuals based on their age, often resulting in negative stereotyping or unequal treatment in various contexts
2. Prejudice or bias against people of certain age groups, typically manifesting in the workplace or social settings, leading to inequitable treatment
3. Behaviors or attitudes that unfairly disadvantage individuals due to their age, particularly affecting older or younger populations in social or professional scenarios

Etymology: "Ageisms" is the plural of "ageism", so it refers to instances or kinds of age-based discrimination. The base word was coined by the American academic Robert N. Butler in 1969, who built it from "age" and the suffix "-ism", the same pattern found in older words such as "racism" and "sexism". Butler's coinage has since become the standard term for prejudice directed at people because of their age.

Synonyms: age discrimination, age bias