Dictionary

rankism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹæŋkɪz(ə)m/ without æ-raising
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈɹeɪ̯ŋkɪz(ə)m/ æ-raising
• /ˈɹɛ̃ŋkɪz(ə)m/ æ-raising

Etymology

From rank + -ism, probably by analogy with words like racism and sexism. It was coined by American physicist, author and social reformer Robert Works Fuller (1936–2025).

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) Abuse, discrimination, or exploitation based on rank.
   • Rankisms cannot be merely legislated away by an authoritarian system, although legislative efforts can help because they introduce and solidify a third-party socio-cultural role that is watching, judging, and may take action. 2006 June 6, Stanford Silver, “Applied Conflict Psychology”, in Process Work and the Facilitation of Conflict (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation), Cincinnati, Oh.: Union Institute & University, →OCLC, page 123:
   • The grading system is behind most forms of overt rankism in the schools. Many people blame the school entrance examinations, saying that rankism cannot be eliminated as long as the so-called examination hell remains. 1975, Japan Interpreter, volumes 10–11, Tokyo: Nihon Shakai Shisō Kenkyūsho [Center for Japanese Social and Political Studies], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 80:
   • Rankism is a degrading assertion of rank. It's what's happening when a person, a group, or nation acts as if it outranks another and attempts to demean, humiliate, or exploit it. 2012 August 12, Robert Fuller, “Rankism: The poison that destroys relationships”, in The Huffington Post, archived from the original on 16 Mar 2015:

Forms

Translations (1)

ru ранки́зм (discrimination based on rank)