equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

Examples of equal protection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lawsuit brought forward by attorneys general from Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington argues the orders violate the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection clause and the Tenth Amendment’s limitations on federal authority over state medical practices. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Mar. 2025

The 14th Amendment provides for equal protection under the law for all U.S. citizens. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2025

The ruling stemmed from two cases regarding the admissions programs at both Harvard and the University of North Carolina, where the court ruled in an opinion with a conservative majority that both programs violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. —Deena Zaru, ABC News, 17 Dec. 2024

The challengers, however, said that’s not how the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law works. —Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for equal protection

• interconnection
• microinjection
• superinfection
• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection

Legal Definition

equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

called also equal protection of the law

see also rational basis test, strict scrutiny, suspect classification

Note: The equal protection requirement of the Constitution protects against legislation that affects individuals differently without a rational basis for doing so. In reviewing claims of denial of equal protection, a court will uphold legislation that has a rational basis unless the legislation affects a fundamental right or involves a suspect classification, such as race. In such a case, the court will use a strict scrutiny standard of review and will strike down legislation that does not show a compelling need for discriminating.