diversity, equity and inclusion

noun

variants or less commonly diversity, equity, and inclusion

1

: a set of values and related policies and practices focused on establishing a group culture of equitable and inclusive treatment and on attracting and retaining a diverse group of participants, including people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against

Through our continued focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, we are increasing the number of female attorneys, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the leadership pipeline.

—Phillip G. Hampton, II, quoted in The Madison-St. Clair (Illinois) Record

… we strongly believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion and take many steps toward promoting this through mentoring, internship programs and ensuring equity in pay and opportunity …

—Jonathan Garcia, quoted in The San Antonio (Texas) Business Journal

This means we practice diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do. It includes investing in our people and creating a culture of care.

—Lisa Toppin

—often used before another noun

Virtually every university, government agency and major corporation has embraced some type of diversity, equity and inclusion policies … to ostensibly promote a more open, equitable and, well, inclusive workplace.

—Orange County (California) Register

The legal battle comes amid a string of attacks against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in corporate America, schools and higher education in recent months.

—Niquel Terry Ellis

—abbreviation DEI

2

: the state of having a diverse group of participants as well as policies and norms that are equitable and inclusive

Whether within a company or in the community, achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a journey and a job that is far from done.

—David M. Velazquez and Laron Evans

—abbreviation DEI

Examples of diversity, equity and inclusion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Education Department’s demand that K-12 districts and state officials certify their schools are free of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs is being met with open defiance from blue states and open arms by red ones. —Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025

The University of Wisconsin system and several state agencies failed to specifically track spending on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Wisconsin's Legislative Audit Bureau (WLAB) recently revealed. —Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Among the demands outlined in the letter are the elimination of Harvard’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs and a ban on masks at campus protests, The Harvard Crimson, a student-run newspaper, and other outlets reported. —Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025

Last week, Johnson’s office walked back one of his sharpest retorts to Trump yet, over the president’s threats to revoke funds from school districts that promote diversity, equity and inclusion practices. —Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025

The agency's acting chair, Trump appointee Andrea Lucas, has moved to roll back legal protections for transgender workers and crack down on workplace diversity, equity and inclusion programs, including demanding information on DEI policies from 20 large law firms. —USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

In one of his first acts, President Donald Trump branded diversity, equity and inclusion programs as discriminatory. —Iveta Silova, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025

The department did not say who ordered the changes, but President Trump has made several executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across government agencies. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2025

The items were reinstated by the academy, reportedly following the visit, and the removals raised questions about whether they were taken down following recent orders from Hegseth targeting diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, content. —Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for diversity, equity and inclusion

• allusion
• collusion
• conclusion
• confusion
• contusion
• delusion
• diffusion
• effusion
• exclusion
• extrusion
• illusion
• infusion