What does ageist mean?
An ageist is a person who discriminates against others on the basis of age, most commonly older adults; used as an adjective, "ageist" describes attitudes, remarks, policies, or institutions that reflect such prejudice. The word entered English in the late 1960s, when American gerontologist Robert Butler coined both "ageism" and "ageist," consciously borrowing the pattern of "racist" and "sexist" to name a form of bias that had previously gone unnamed. Today the term appears frequently in debates over hiring practices, mandatory retirement, media portrayals of older people, and healthcare access. It carries firmly negative connotations and belongs to the vocabulary of social justice and civil-rights discourse. Related terms include "ageism" (the prejudice itself), "elderly," and "senior." Understanding "ageist" is useful because it names a widespread but often unexamined form of discrimination affecting workplaces and societies with aging populations.
A person who discriminates against or holds prejudice toward others on the basis of their age, especially older people.
"The lawsuit alleged that the manager was an ageist who systematically favored younger candidates."
Often used attributively in legal and journalistic contexts.
Characterized by or showing prejudice or discrimination on the basis of age.
"She described the job advertisement's requirement for 'digital natives' as ageist."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple people who hold age-based prejudices.
"The documentary exposed the ageists within the industry's casting offices."
"Ageist" was coined in 1969 by gerontologist Robert Butler, deliberately modeled on "racist" and "sexist" to name a prejudice the world had long ignored.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ageist
The words "ageism" and "ageist" were coined in 1969 by American physician and gerontologist Robert N. Butler, who modeled them explicitly on "racism" and "sexism" to draw attention to discrimination against the elderly. The underlying root is "age," which derives from Old French "aage" (from Vulgar Latin *aetaticum), ultimately from Latin "aetas" ("age, lifetime"), itself related to "aevum," meaning eternity or an age of the world. This Latin root also yields cognates such as "eternal," "medieval," "coeval," and "primeval." Though young by historical standards, the term spread rapidly through English-language discourse on aging and civil rights.
Related word forms
How ageist is actually used
The word carries strongly negative connotations and is typically used in discussions of workplace discrimination, media representation, and social policy. It most often refers to prejudice against older people, though it can apply to any age-based bias. The adjective form frequently modifies attitudes, policies, language, and institutions rather than individuals.
Easily confused with ageist
Ageism is the discrimination or prejudice itself, while an ageist is a person who holds or displays it (or, adjectivally, something that reflects it).