Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
classism

classism

4 5.9
To treat people unfairly because they are poor or rich
  • noun
  • /ˈklæsɪzəm/
: clasismo
  • Activists are working to raise awareness about classism and its impact on social mobility.
  • classism and racism
  • classism and sexism
  • classism and ableism

I'm not sure I've ever outgrown those versions of classism.

Examples

  • Reflect on your role as a teacher in either perpetuating or countering institutionalized racism or classism.

    Academic text (2014)

  • The documentary highlighted how classism affects access to healthcare for marginalized communities.

  • We are the ones speaking out against racism and classism from our suburban friends.

    Blog text (7)

  • How do you see classism playing a role in the dream of meritocracy?

  • The truth doesn't matter to angry people focused on classism, however.

    Blog text (28)

  • There is no place for racism, sexism, or classism in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Most interviewees said that racism, like classism, was not evident.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Current evidence suggests that students who do not share an understanding of classism or racism as societal phenomena tend to internalize their negative experiences.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Social class classism contributes to conflicts between schools and students from poor and minority backgrounds (Bowman, 1994).

    Academic text (2011)

  • Many students from low-income backgrounds experience classism in the education system.

Synonyms

discrimination
vsclassism
  • Offensive
322 3.5

Unfair treatment of people because of their race, age, or sex

is limited to unfairness because of someone's social rank or economic position
bigotry
vsclassism
  • NSFW
89 7.0

An unfair dislike of people from other groups like different races or religions

is about unfair treatment aimed at people because of social rank or economic background

Antonyms

acceptance
106 2.9

Willingness to be friendly to people and ideas that are different

egalitarianism
6 7.9

A belief that all people in society should have equal rights and chances

How Discriminatory

discrimination
  • Offensive
322 3.5
classism
4 5.9
prejudice
184 4.8
bias
  • Specialized
211 5.2

Surface Forms

classism singular
classisms plural

Morphology

classism = class (transparent) = class + ism

Formed by the productive suffix '-ism' added to 'class' to denote prejudice or ideology relating to social class, a pattern similar to 'racism' or 'sexism' and readily inferable by learners.

Etymology

Classism comes from class, meaning a group or a person's place in society, and the ending -ism, which makes a word for a belief or system, like in racism or sexism. So classism is unfair treatment or prejudice 'because of social class'.