ageist
C1/C2Formal, journalistic, sociological, HR contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Discriminating against someone based on their age, typically against older people.
Holding or exhibiting prejudice, stereotyping, or unfair treatment on the grounds of a person's age. While often directed at the elderly, it can also target younger people (e.g., ageist attitudes towards hiring millennials).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective. The corresponding noun is 'ageism'. The term is value-laden and inherently negative, used to criticize discriminatory practices or attitudes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is identical. The term is used in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally negative in both dialects, associated with social justice and equality discourse.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK media and policy documents, but common in both. The concept is central to anti-discrimination law in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be ageist (towards sb)consider sth ageistdescribe sth as ageistaccuse sb of being ageistVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Past one's sell-by date (ageist idiom)”
- “Over the hill (ageist idiom)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to discriminatory hiring, promotion, or redundancy practices based on age.
Academic
Used in sociology, psychology, and law to analyse systemic discrimination.
Everyday
To criticise jokes, comments, or assumptions about someone's capabilities due to age.
Technical
In HR and legal contexts regarding compliance with age discrimination legislation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company was found to have ageisted against older applicants in the recruitment process.
- We must actively work to not ageist in our policies.
American English
- The lawsuit claims the firm ageisted by targeting employees over 50 for layoffs.
- Legislation exists to prevent employers from ageisting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is ageist to think older people cannot learn new technology.
- The advert was removed because it was ageist.
- The new manager was accused of making ageist comments about her veteran colleagues.
- Many industries are struggling to shed their ageist hiring practices.
- The report dismantles the ageist presumption that innovation is the sole province of the young.
- Campaigners argue that ostensibly neutral policies can have deeply ageist consequences.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AGE' + 'IST' like 'racIST' or 'sexIST' – it's the same kind of prejudice, but focused on age.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGE IS A DISABILITY / AGE IS IRRELEVANCE (Metaphors underlying ageist thinking: treating age as a limiting factor or as something that should not matter but is wrongly made to matter).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'эйджист'. Use 'возрастной дискриминации' (для ageism) or 'дискриминирующий по возрасту' (для ageist).
- The '-ist' suffix is active, implying an agent, not just a concept.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ageist' as a noun for the concept (the noun is 'ageism'). Incorrect: 'There is a lot of ageist in this company.' Correct: 'There is a lot of ageism...'
- Spelling: 'agist' (missing 'e').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'ageist'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, while most commonly associated with bias against older people, the term can logically apply to any age-based prejudice, including against the young (e.g., 'ageist assumptions about the reliability of teenagers').
It is standard in formal, journalistic, and academic contexts. In casual conversation, people might simply say 'discriminatory based on age' or 'prejudiced against older/younger people.'
'Ageist' is primarily an adjective describing discriminatory actions or attitudes. 'Ageism' is the noun referring to the system, practice, or ideology of age-based discrimination itself.
It is pronounced AY-jist. The first syllable rhymes with 'day', and the second sounds like 'gist'.