Otherism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Prejudice or discrimination directed against people who are seen as different from one's own group
2. The attitude of regarding certain people as outsiders and treating them unfairly because of perceived differences
3. Biased treatment of individuals or groups viewed as alien, unlike the dominant community

Etymology: "Otherism" is a transparent formation: the English word "other," from Old English "other," meaning "the second of two" or "one of two," plus the suffix "-ism." That suffix passed through French "-isme" from Latin "-ismus" and Greek "-ismos," and in English it usually names a doctrine, system, or practice, as in "socialism" or "capitalism." The prejudice sense comes less from the suffix than from a pattern. English has long formed "-ism" words for bias against a group, such as "racism" and "sexism," and "otherism" follows that model to name bias against people seen as outsiders. It appears to be a relatively recent formation, so its meaning can be read straight from its parts.