antiracism
|an-ti-rac-ism|
/ˌæn.tiˈreɪ.sɪzəm/
actively opposing racism
Etymology
'antiracism' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') meaning 'against' and the noun 'racism' (from French 'racisme'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'racism' referred to 'discrimination based on race'.
'racism' entered English from French 'racisme' in the 19th century (itself related to 'race' from Italian 'razza' / Old French), and the compound 'anti-' + 'racism' later formed in English usage; 'antiracism' (often written 'anti-racism' earlier) became more common in 20th-century civil-rights discourse.
Initially the parts meant 'against' and 'race-based discrimination'; over time 'antiracism' evolved from a descriptive label ('opposed to racism') into a term covering both a body of thought and active practices or policies to combat racial inequality.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the belief, doctrine, or movement that opposes racism and advocates for racial equality.
Her work in antiracism has focused on public education and community outreach.
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Noun 2
practical actions, policies, or practices intended to identify, challenge, and change systems, behaviors, and beliefs that perpetuate racial inequality.
The organization adopted antiracism policies to review hiring, promotion, and disciplinary procedures.
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Last updated: 2025/09/08 14:03