reverse discrimination

noun

: discrimination against whites or males (as in employment or education)

Examples of reverse discrimination in a Sentence

He claimed that reverse discrimination was to blame for his unemployment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hoffman's attorney, Michael Fox of Fox & Fox law firm, acknowledged the unique circumstances of this reverse discrimination case. — Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 8 Aug. 2025 In recent years, critics like White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller have revived the concept of reverse discrimination. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 6 June 2025 The case could allow states to eliminate majority-minority congressional districts, which some conservatives have argued is another instance of reverse discrimination against white Americans. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2026 For some Bolivians, their policies and rhetoric felt like reverse discrimination, such as holding some public service positions for Indigenous applicants or requiring officials to speak an official language in addition to Spanish. — Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reverse discrimination

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reverse discrimination was in 1964

Rhymes for reverse discrimination

See All Rhymes for reverse discrimination

Browse Nearby Words

reverse discard
reverse discrimination
reverse dive
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Cite this Entry

“Reverse discrimination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverse%20discrimination. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

reverse discrimination

noun
: discrimination against whites or males (as in employment or education)

More from Merriam-Webster on reverse discrimination

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reverse discrimination

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