profiling

noun

pro·​fil·​ing ˈprō-ˌfī-liŋ 

: the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies

consumer profiling

specifically : the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior

racial profiling

Examples of profiling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Conduct Privacy Impact Assessments: States like Maryland and Minnesota mandate assessments for high-risk processing activities, including profiling and the use of algorithms. —Alonzo Martinez, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

But their white friend in the back seat took a different approach, calling the officer out for racial profiling, going on and on and on. —Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 8 Dec. 2024

Most recently, Deirdre M. Daly reviewed the extent to which the Connecticut State Police had properly reported racial profiling data. —Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 5 Dec. 2024

While the China Initiative, which expired in 2022, was intended to curb Chinese economic and technological espionage, many Asian American groups accused the program of racial profiling toward Asian scholars in the U.S. —Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

profiling

noun

pro·​fil·​ing

: the practice of singling out persons for law enforcement procedures on the basis of predetermined characteristics

specifically : the discriminatory practice of profiling based on race or ethnicity

racial profiling