Word
sexist
A sexist person or comment unfairly judges or treats someone based on their sex or gender, usually in a way that disadvantages women.
Meanings
showing unfair beliefs or behavior that treats people differently because of sex or gender
a person who has or expresses unfair beliefs about sex or gender
Definition
“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.
More at B2 level
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More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.