1
as in segregation
the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others Hitler's declaration of his belief in a "master race" provided irrefutable proof to the world of the inherent and dangerous racism of the Nazi movement

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2
as in prejudice
hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most deplorable incidents of racism that occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1960s

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of racism Emerging data shows that COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority communities, likely due to racism’s downstream effects on socioeconomic opportunities, health outcomes and insurance coverage. Isobel Rosenthal, Scientific American, 17 June 2020 Villarosa, a veteran journalist who has covered Black health and wellness for decades, begins her forceful exposure of racism’s toxic effect on the U.S.’s health system by recounting her own personal awakening. Julia Schimautz, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2022 Barrow asked for a definition of critical race theory, which is the study of racism’s effect on societal structures and is usually taught at the graduate level but has become shorthand to describe progressive ideas about race and gender. Tyler Kingkade, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2022 But increasingly, research shows differences based on race don't reflect biology, but instead structural racism's effect on health. Nada Hassanein, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2022 See All Example Sentences for racism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racism
Noun
  • The practice, known as Easter Monday, started as a pseudo-holiday for Black domestic workers who were barred from attending the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll due to segregation and many of whom typically had to work during the holiday weekend.
    Melissa Noel, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Employ network segregation tactics to prevent privilege escalation and lateral movement by the Ghost ransomware attackers.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • However, none of these prejudices gets much scientific support.
    Lieke ten Brummelhuis, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • One organization is notorious for an unintentional form of this prejudice: animal shelters.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Racism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racism. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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