# sexism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɛksɪzm̩/ · frequency rank #14,632

## Definitions
1. The belief that people of one sex (or gender) are inherently different from those of another sex, and generally that one sex is superior to others.
2. Discrimination against, or different treatment of, people on the basis of sex or gender, including the expectation that people should adhere to stereotypical social roles (gender roles) based on sex; (in particular, especially) discrimination against women.

## Etymology
From sex + -ism.

## Easily confused with
- **sexist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sexism-vs-sexist)
- **sexes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sexes-vs-sexism)
- **semis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/semis-vs-sexism)
- **schism** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/schism-vs-sexism)
- **sexier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sexier-vs-sexism)
- **sadism** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadism-vs-sexism)
- **sexiest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sexiest-vs-sexism)

## Common misspellings (9)
`esxism`, `seixsm`, `sexims`, `sexismm`, `sexissm`, `sexsim`, `sexxism`, `ssexism`, `sxeism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sexism