social justice
3 synonyms and 2 antonyms for social justice, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The principle that wealth, opportunity and rights should be distributed fairly across a society, and the political and campaigning work aimed at achieving that.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
equality of opportunity
Antonyms
How to use social justice
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
social justice movement
racial and social justice
social justice issue
Neutral in most contexts, though politically loaded in some.
Etymology
From 'social', from Latin 'socialis' meaning 'of companionship', plus 'justice', from Latin 'iustitia'.
Full origin of social justice →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between social justice and equality?
Equality means treating everyone identically. Social justice accepts that people start from different positions and asks what would actually produce a fair outcome, which sometimes means giving more support to those who begin with less. The distinction is often summarised as equality versus equity.
Why is 'social justice warrior' an insult?
The term is used sarcastically to suggest someone campaigns online for the status it brings rather than out of genuine conviction. It says nothing about the merits of social justice itself, and many people described that way wear the label with pride.
Is social justice a left-wing idea?
It is most associated with the political left, but the phrase has deep roots in Catholic social teaching and is used across the spectrum. What people disagree about is not usually whether society should be fair but what fairness requires and who should deliver it.
