redlining: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Technical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “redlining” mean?
The discriminatory practice of refusing loans, insurance, or other services to residents of certain areas, typically based on racial or ethnic composition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The discriminatory practice of refusing loans, insurance, or other services to residents of certain areas, typically based on racial or ethnic composition.
Any systematic exclusion or discrimination in services, opportunities, or resources based on geographic location, demographic characteristics, or socioeconomic status; can also refer to the act of drawing a red line on a map to denote areas deemed undesirable for investment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is most strongly associated with American socio-political and economic history. In British contexts, it is understood but used more in academic or journalistic discussions of discrimination, often with reference to US examples or analogous UK practices like 'postcode discrimination.'
Connotations
In the US, it carries heavy historical and legal connotations linked to the Civil Rights era. In the UK, while understood, it may be perceived as a specifically American term for a concept sometimes described with local phrasing.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in American English. In British English, it is a low-frequency, specialized term.
Grammar
How to Use “redlining” in a Sentence
[Subject] engaged in redlining against [Object/Area].Redlining of [Area] by [Institution] resulted in [Consequence].The [Policy/Map] facilitated the redlining of [Neighbourhood].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “redlining” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The report suggests some banks were effectively redlining entire postcode sectors.
- Historically, building societies were accused of redlining districts with high immigrant populations.
American English
- The bank was found to have redlined predominantly Black neighborhoods for decades.
- New algorithms must be audited to ensure they don't digitally redline low-income applicants.
adverb
British English
- This is not used adverbially.
American English
- This is not used adverbially.
adjective
British English
- The redlining policies of the mid-20th century have had long-lasting effects.
- They are investigating potentially redlining algorithms in the insurance software.
American English
- The redlining maps from the 1930s are stark evidence of institutional racism.
- A class-action lawsuit addressed redlining practices in auto loans.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in risk management, corporate social responsibility, and compliance training regarding fair lending laws.
Academic
A key term in sociology, urban studies, economics, critical race theory, and history papers.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. May appear in news discussions about inequality, housing, or banking scandals.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (e.g., Fair Housing Act violations), urban planning, and financial regulation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “redlining”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “redlining”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “redlining”
- Using 'redlining' to mean simply 'rejecting' without the systemic, discriminatory, geographic component.
- Confusing it with 'gentrification' (which often follows historically redlined areas).
- Misspelling as 'red-lining' (hyphenated form is less common in modern usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While explicit, map-based redlining is illegal, studies suggest it persists in more subtle forms through algorithmic bias, stricter lending criteria in certain postcodes, and unequal investment, often called 'modern' or 'digital' redlining.
There isn't a direct single-word antonym. Concepts like 'inclusive lending,' 'fair housing initiatives,' 'community reinvestment,' or 'affirmatively furthering fair housing' describe proactive opposite policies.
While its origins in the US are inextricably linked to racial discrimination, the core mechanism is geographic exclusion. It can and has been based on ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, or a combination of factors.
Yes. The term is now used metaphorically in contexts like 'insurance redlining,' 'digital redlining' (unequal broadband access), and 'healthcare redlining' (lack of services in certain areas).
The discriminatory practice of refusing loans, insurance, or other services to residents of certain areas, typically based on racial or ethnic composition.
Redlining is usually formal, academic, technical, journalistic in register.
Redlining: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛdˌlaɪ.nɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɛdˌlaɪ.nɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be on the wrong side of the red line”
- “A legacy of redlining”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a banker drawing a thick RED LINE on a city map around a neighbourhood, saying 'No loans here.' The line RED-LINES that area out of opportunity.
Conceptual Metaphor
DRAWING A BOUNDARY IS EXCLUDING; MAPS ARE INSTRUMENTS OF POWER.
Practice
Quiz
In its broadest modern sense, 'redlining' can refer to: