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ableist

What is the opposite of ableist? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.

Adjective — Discriminating against disabled people, or assuming that being non-disabled is the normal and superior state.

Etymology

From "able" plus "-ist," on the pattern of racist and sexist; the noun "ableism" and this adjective came into use through disability-rights activism in the late twentieth century.

Full origin of ableist →

Frequently asked questions

What does ableist mean?
Discriminating against disabled people, or treating non-disabled bodies and minds as the default. It covers open prejudice and, more often, assumptions built into language, design and policy.
What is an example of ableist language?
Using conditions as insults — calling a bad decision "insane," or a disliked idea "lame." Both borrow a disability as a synonym for something negative.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.