ageism

noun

age·​ism ˈā-(ˌ)ji-zəm How to pronounce ageism (audio)
variants or less commonly agism
: prejudice or discrimination against a particular age-group and especially the elderly
ageist adjective
or less commonly agist

Examples of ageism in a Sentence

He accused his former employer of ageism when he lost his job to a younger man.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Creating awareness that leads to change requires a basic understanding of bias and stereotypes to combat workplace ageism. Sheila Callaham, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Older workers may feel some subtle ageism discrimination. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 The group was founded by Philadelphian Maggie Kuhn in 1970 to combat ageism. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Feb. 2025 The film will serve as the foundation to workshops on combating ageism, Gilad said. Daniella Walsh, Orange County Register, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ageism

Word History

Etymology

age entry 1 + -ism (as in racism)

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ageism was in 1969

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ageism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ageism. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

ageism

noun
age·​ism ˈā-(ˌ)jiz-əm How to pronounce ageism (audio)
: prejudice or discrimination against people of a particular age and especially against the elderly
ageist
-jist
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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