speciesism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “speciesism” mean?
The assumption of human superiority, leading to the exploitation of animals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The assumption of human superiority, leading to the exploitation of animals.
A prejudice or bias in favour of the interests of members of one's own species and against those of members of other species. It is a concept central to animal rights philosophy, critiquing the moral inconsistency of granting different rights or consideration to beings based solely on species membership.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. The concept is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong negative connotations in contexts discussing animal ethics. In general discourse, it may be viewed as a niche or ideological term.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language but established within philosophy, ethics, and animal rights literature. Slightly higher public recognition in the UK historically due to earlier activist movements.
Grammar
How to Use “speciesism” in a Sentence
[Subject] is accused of speciesism.[Subject] challenges the speciesism inherent in [system/practice].The debate centres on charges of speciesism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “speciesism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was accused of speciesising in his research, prioritising human models without justification.
American English
- The policy effectively speciesizes, denying protections based solely on taxonomic classification.
adverb
British English
- The resources were allocated speciesistically.
American English
- He argued that thinking speciesistically is a moral failure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused. Might appear in CSR reports of companies facing animal welfare criticism.
Academic
Core term in ethics, moral philosophy, animal studies, and environmental humanities.
Everyday
Rare. Used primarily by activists or in discussions about veganism and animal rights.
Technical
Defined term in philosophical and bioethical literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “speciesism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “speciesism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speciesism”
- Misspelling as 'speciism' or 'specism'.
- Using it as a neutral term (e.g., 'Human speciesism is natural') instead of a critical term.
- Confusing with 'species' in rapid speech.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term was popularised by philosopher Peter Singer in the 1970s, though it was used earlier by psychologist Richard D. Ryder.
Yes, it is included in major dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster.
The term is typically used to describe human bias against other species. Reverse usage (bias favouring another species over humans) is sometimes discussed but is not the core meaning.
Anthropocentrism is the broader view that humans are the central or most important entities. Speciesism is a specific form of it, focusing on the discriminatory treatment or moral disregard for other species.
The assumption of human superiority, leading to the exploitation of animals.
Speciesism is usually formal, academic in register.
Speciesism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspiːʃiːzɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspiːʃiːzɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The final frontier of prejudice (a metaphorical description of speciesism).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SPECIES + ISM. Just like 'racism' is bias based on race, 'speciesism' is bias based on species.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISCRIMINATION IS A WALL / BIAS IS A HIERARCHY. Speciesism is conceptualised as an arbitrary barrier or an unjust ranking system that excludes non-humans.
Practice
Quiz
Which field is the term 'speciesism' most closely associated with?