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Definition of ableism

ableism

/ˈeɪ.bəl.ɪ.zəm/
a · ble · ism
Adjective:ableist
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ableism Lexical Profile

ableism Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Discrimination, prejudice, or social bias in favor of non-disabled individuals and against people with physical, sensory, cognitive, or psychiatric disabilities.

Example

"Disability advocates worked with the city council to address institutional ableism in public transit design."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Primarily used in North American and global disability rights contexts; in British English, "disablism" is also used, sometimes to distinguish direct discriminatory acts from systemic bias in favor of non-disabled people.

• Rhymes for ableism

• Nearby Words

ablaze
able
abled
ableism
ableist
abloom
ablutions

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 1980s within the American disability rights movement by combining "able" with the suffix "-ism" (modeled on "racism" and "sexism").

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ableism. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ableism
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