colorism

noun

col·​or·​ism ˈkə-lə-ˌri-zəm 

-lər-ˌi-zəm

variants or British colourism

: prejudice or discrimination especially within a racial or ethnic group favoring people with lighter skin over those with darker skin

Under this system of colorism—the system which prevailed in my childhood in Jamaica, and which has carried over to the present—rarely will dark and light people co-mingle. Rarely will they achieve between themselves an intimacy informed with identity.

—Michelle Cliff

What writer Alice Walker defined as colorism, the preferential or prejudicial treatment of same-race people based on skin color, continues to this day. And as she once wrote, unless we exorcise it "we cannot as a people progress. For colorism, like colonialism, sexism and racism, impedes us."

—Itabari Njeri

Examples of colorism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is primarily due to the frequent showcases of physical altercations, unruly arguments, bouts of colorism, and more. —Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

Trending Stories When asked by NPR’s Up First host A Martínez about criticisms that Pop The Balloon promotes colorism and body shaming, Amuli said the viral moments can’t represent the average experience on the show. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025

Does colorism affect how Korean Skincare is formulated? —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025

This initiative includes addressing digital colorism, highlighting how standard filters on social media platforms often alter features and skin tones, perpetuating narrow beauty standards. —Pauleanna Reid, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

color entry 1 + -ism, after racism

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for colorism

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