Othering

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈʌðəɹɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The act of perceiving individuals as distinct and separate, which frequently leads to social exclusion or differentiation in identity
2. The process of categorizing certain individuals or groups as fundamentally different, often resulting in marginalization or discrimination
3. The practice of defining individuals through a lens of difference that often results in their alienation or social separation

Etymology: "Othering" is a plain formation: the verb "other" with the suffix "-ing" added to turn it into a noun for an action or practice. The base is the ordinary English word "other," which has been in the language since Old English as "oþer," meaning a second or different one. The noun sense, in which "othering" names the act of treating someone as fundamentally different from oneself, is a later extension of that everyday verb. The verb "to other" in its sense of making someone an outsider is what gives the noun its meaning. The word "other" was used as a verb in this way, and "othering" grew out of that usage, so the term draws its force from the plain contrast between "us" and "other" that the base word already carries.