hate speech

American  

[heyt speech] / ˈheɪt ˌspitʃ /

noun

1. speech, writing, or nonverbal communication that attacks, threatens, or insults a person or group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

   The racist graffiti was condemned as hate speech.

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hate speech British  

noun

1. speech disparaging a racial, sexual, or ethnic group or a member of such a group

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Etymology

Origin of hate speech

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

It was banned from all major digital streaming platforms and in Germany due to Germany's laws against extremist symbolism and hate speech, but went viral on social media, particularly on X.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday announced the creation of a tool to track hate speech on social media and hold them accountable, in his latest measure targeting tech giants.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

Rather it argues her “statements are opinions expressed in an ongoing philosophical and scientific debate, and don't amount to hate speech, incitement to discrimination, or violence.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Laurent Buanec, France director of X, pushed back against the investigation in January 2025, saying X had "strict, clear and public rules", which protected the platform from hate speech and disinformation.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

“I’ll be pressuring them to have some kind of schoolwide discussion on diversity and the dangers of hate speech like this.”

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh