erasure

[ ih-rey-sher ]

noun

1. an act or instance of erasing.
2. a place where something has been erased; a spot or mark left after erasing:

   You can't sign a contract with so many erasures in it.

3. 1. the exclusion of a minority group or group member from the historical record, or from the discussion of current events: black victim erasure in the crime-bill debate.

      erasure of female scientists from textbooks;

      black victim erasure in the crime-bill debate.

   2. the replacement or whitewashing of a minority character or group with a member or members of the dominant cultural group in fictional representations of historical events:

      minority erasure in film.

   3. the denial of an individual’s or group’s minority identity, or the misidentification of a minority group member: cultural erasure and white identity among Chicanos.

      trans-erasure issues in the LGBT community;

      cultural erasure and white identity among Chicanos.

erasure

/ ɪˈreɪʒə /

noun

1. the act or an instance of erasing
2. the place or mark, as on a piece of paper, where something has been erased

Other Words From

• none·rasure noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of erasure¹

First recorded in 1725–35; erase + -ure

Example Sentences

Such erasure leaves everyone vulnerable to a repeat of past injustices.

From Los Angeles Times

Some First Nations leaders have called the book "offensive", saying it contains language errors and contributes to the "erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences".

From BBC

Watching "Here" is akin to watching a willful erasure of how the past has been weaponized over the last several years.

From Salon

"Removing the word 'women' from the ministry's title is an erasure of the struggles and specific needs of women. It generalises their issues under the broader term 'family,'" Ms Absie said.

From BBC

Such acts of racial erasure eventually damage the minds, morals and ethics of white people — and in particular white children.

From Salon

Related Words

• deletion