non-speciesist
|non-spec-ies-ist|
🇺🇸
/nɑnˈspiːʃɪst/
🇬🇧
/nɒnˈspiːʃɪst/
rejects species-based discrimination
Etymology
'non-speciesist' originates from English, specifically formed by the prefix 'non-' + 'speciesist', where 'non-' meant 'not' and 'speciesist' meant 'one who practices speciesism'.
'speciesist' derives from the noun 'species' plus the agent suffix '-ist'. 'Species' comes from Latin 'species' meaning 'appearance, kind', ultimately related to Latin 'specere' 'to look'. The modern sense 'speciesism' was coined and popularized in the 20th century (notably by thinkers such as Richard Ryder and Peter Singer), and 'non-speciesist' was formed subsequently as a negative adjective/noun.
Initially 'species' referred to a biological 'kind' or 'type'; over the 20th century 'speciesism' came to mean prejudice or discrimination favoring one species (typically humans) over others. 'Non-speciesist' therefore evolved to mean 'rejecting that prejudice' or 'not practicing species-based discrimination'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is not speciesist; someone who opposes species-based discrimination and gives equal consideration to the interests of different species.
Many non-speciesists advocate for legal changes to protect animal welfare.
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Adjective 1
not exhibiting speciesism; rejecting discrimination based on species membership.
Her writings promote a non-speciesist approach to ethics that gives animal interests equal weight.
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Last updated: 2025/11/30 01:00