systemic racism
2 synonyms for systemic racism, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Racial disadvantage that is produced by the ordinary rules, practices and habits of institutions such as courts, banks, schools and employers, so that unequal outcomes persist even where no individual intends to discriminate.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
structural racism
institutional racism
How to use systemic racism
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
address systemic racism
evidence of systemic racism
systemic racism in healthcare
tackle systemic racism
Standard in academic, legal and policy writing; politically contested in general debate, where some object to the term itself.
Etymology
A compound of systemic, 'affecting a whole system', and racism.
Full origin of systemic racism →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between systemic racism and individual racism?
Individual racism is prejudice or hostility held and acted on by a particular person. Systemic racism sits in policies, procedures and long-standing patterns, so it can carry on producing unequal results in an organisation where no one holds racist views.
Is systemic racism the same as institutional racism?
They overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably. 'Institutional racism' usually points at one body such as a police force or a university, while 'systemic racism' describes the pattern across many connected institutions at once.
Does systemic racism mean everyone in a system is racist?
No. The term is a claim about outcomes and mechanisms, not about the beliefs of the people working inside the system. That distinction is the most common source of argument about the phrase.
