Word

sexist

adjective B2

/ˈsɛksɪst/

Meanings

adjective

showing unfair beliefs or behavior that treats people differently because of sex or gender

noun

a person who has or expresses unfair beliefs about sex or gender

Definition

A sexist person or comment unfairly judges or treats someone based on their sex or gender, usually in a way that disadvantages women.

“Sexist” describes attitudes, language, or behavior that assume one sex or gender is better, more suitable, or more capable than another. It often shows up as stereotypes, unfair expectations, or unequal treatment. You can use it to describe a person, a remark, a joke, an ad, or a policy. It is usually used as a negative judgment because it points out discrimination.

Examples

I told my colleague his comment sounded sexist and asked him to rephrase it.
You shouldn’t laugh at sexist jokes, even if everyone else does.
She refused to work with a manager who kept making sexist remarks in meetings.
They criticized the ad for being sexist because it showed only men as leaders.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse “sexist” with “sexy”; “sexist” means discriminatory, not attractive.