ageist

[ ey-jist ]

adjective

1. relating to, involving, or fostering discrimination against persons of a certain age group:

   This ageist narrative about the shortcomings of contemporary youngsters has become widely accepted, but it is useful to remember that every cohort has faced the same prejudice when they were young.

2. showing or suggesting a belief that older people are debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment:

   The movie provides a window into the diverse lives of older LGBTQ adults, trampling common ageist stereotypes and showing viewers that there is no singular LGBTQ elder story.

noun

1. someone who discriminates against persons of a certain age group, especially older people:

   As young global citizens and digital natives, we're here to prove ageists and Luddites wrong.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ageist¹

age ( def ) + -ist ( def )

Example Sentences

“I think the difficulty there would be drawing the line between what is ageist and what is really fair,” Tan said.

From Los Angeles Times

Stokes said he couldn't answer the question without sounding "ageist" and admitted that all who remain in the squad are in contention for the Ashes tour.

From BBC

She also notices interest in certain industries where looks factor more; in Seattle, for example, the tech industry tends to lean young and can feel ageist for older employees.

From Seattle Times

Distracted by tabloid drama and ageist in their construction, the final seasons of ‘The Crown’ turned Netflix’s most acclaimed series into a rehash of scandal and tragedy.

From Los Angeles Times

Lee illustrated that single women in their 40s should have the ability to live their lives without the ageist judgment forced upon them, such as relying on a man for happiness.

From Salon