ageism
C1Formal, Academic, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
Prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person's age, especially against older people.
A system of beliefs and practices that devalues and disadvantages individuals based on their age, often manifested in workplace policies, social attitudes, and media representation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in sociological, legal, and HR contexts. While it can refer to discrimination against any age group (e.g., younger people), its predominant use and societal concern focus on discrimination against older adults.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is consistent ('ageism'). The term is slightly more prevalent in British policy and academic discourse, but widely used and understood in both variants.
Connotations
Strongly negative, implying unfairness and systemic bias. In the US, often linked with legal frameworks like the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Frequency
High frequency in professional, academic, and activist contexts; medium-low in casual everyday conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + ageism (e.g., combat, tackle, face)Ageism + [Preposition] (e.g., ageism in hiring, ageism against older workers)[Adjective] + ageism (e.g., blatant, systemic, reverse)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Over the hill (pejorative, related concept)”
- “Long in the tooth (pejorative, related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to discriminatory hiring, promotion, or redundancy practices based on age, a key HR and legal concern.
Academic
Studied in sociology, social psychology, and gerontology as a form of structural inequality.
Everyday
Used to call out unfair assumptions or treatment of someone because they are 'too old' or 'too young' for something.
Technical
In law, refers to violations of statutes like the UK's Equality Act 2010 or the US ADEA of 1967.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tribunal found the company had ageisted against the older applicants.
- The policy unfairly ageists those over 50.
American English
- The lawsuit alleged the firm was ageisting in its layoff decisions.
- We must call out practices that ageist veteran employees.
adverb
British English
- The manager spoke ageistly about 'digital natives'.
- The team was ageistly structured.
American English
- He argued the hiring was done ageistly.
- The comment was ageistly phrased.
adjective
British English
- The advert was criticised for its ageist language.
- He held ageist views about technological aptitude.
American English
- The policy was clearly ageist in its effects.
- She called out the ageist joke during the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Ageism is not good. We must be nice to old and young people.
- Ageism in job adverts is illegal in many countries.
- Some people face ageism when they look for work after 50.
- The charity campaigns against ageism in the healthcare system.
- Subtle ageism can be seen in how older characters are portrayed in films.
- Combating institutional ageism requires comprehensive policy reforms and shifts in societal attitudes.
- The study delineates the intersection of ageism and sexism, terming it 'gendered ageism', which disproportionately affects older women.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AGE' + 'ISM' (like racism, sexism). It's an 'ism' (a system of prejudice) based on AGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGEISM IS A BARRIER/WALL (preventing access and participation). AGEISM IS A DISEASE (something society needs to cure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like 'возрастизм'. Use 'эйджизм' (a common loanword) or descriptive phrases like 'дискриминация по возрасту', 'возрастная дискриминация'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'ageism' (discrimination) with 'aging' (the process). Incorrect: 'The ageism population is growing.' Correct: 'The aging population faces ageism.'
- Using it only for the elderly. It can, technically, apply to the young, but must be specified (e.g., 'reverse ageism').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ageism' LEAST likely to be discussed?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, technically. The core definition is prejudice based on age. However, in common and legal usage, it most frequently refers to discrimination against older people. Discrimination against the young is sometimes specified as 'reverse ageism' or 'ageism against younger workers'.
'Ageism' refers to the underlying prejudiced belief system or attitude. 'Age discrimination' is the specific act or practice resulting from that prejudice. One is the ideology, the other is the behavior. They are often used interchangeably in general discourse.
Yes, it is considered a formal, socio-political term. It is standard in academic, legal, journalistic, and professional HR contexts. In casual conversation, people might simply say 'discrimination because of age'.
The term was coined in 1969 by American gerontologist Robert N. Butler to describe discrimination against older adults, drawing analogy to 'racism' and 'sexism'.