racism

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from French racisme, equivalent to race +‎ -ism. === Pronunciation === (US) IPA(key): /ˈɹeɪsɪzm̩/ === Noun === racism (usually uncountable, plural racisms) The belief that there are distinct human races with inherent differences which determine their abilities, and generally that some are superior and others inferior. The policies, practices, or systems (e.g. government or political) promoting this belief or promoting the dominance of one or more races over others. Prejudice or discrimination based upon race or ethnicity; (countable) an action of such discrimination. ==== Usage notes ==== Usage has broadened in the 21st century to include structural power dynamics that underlie racist institutions and policies, as well as personal prejudices. Some speakers use the term racism loosely to refer to prejudice or discrimination based not upon race but upon other factors such as disability; this is nonstandard: The term reverse racism has been used to denote personal racial prejudice by a group that is or has been oppressed/disempowered, against a more powerful group. Some argue that this distinction does not need to be made and advocate that this be called simply racism, while others argue that the term racism should not be used at all in such cases, and that racism is distinguished from racial prejudice by being supported by institutions and social structures. For many speakers, the term racism implies conscious belief or behavior, but this is not always the case. ==== Synonyms ==== (racial discrimination): See Thesaurus:racism ==== Hypernyms ==== (racial discrimination): See Thesaurus:prejudice ==== Coordinate terms ==== (racial discrimination): See Thesaurus:prejudice ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === === References === === Further reading === racism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “racism”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === Ramics, cimars