ageism

noun

age·​ism ˈā-(ˌ)ji-zəm 

variants or less commonly agism

: prejudice or discrimination against a particular age-group and especially the elderly

ageist adjective

or less commonly agist

ˈā-jist 

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

Forget ageism; this chapter might be your most successful yet. —Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

If anything, the cover set off a healthy churn of debates around ageism and beauty standards. —Laura Neilson, Vogue, 30 May 2025

Dayle Haddon shared her thoughts on ageism in fashion in her final social media post before her Dec. 27 death at age 76. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024

Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

age entry 1 + -ism (as in racism)

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ageism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

ageism

noun

age·​ism ˈā-(ˌ)jiz-əm 

: prejudice or discrimination against people of a particular age and especially against the elderly

ageist

-jist

adjective