Political correctness

Political correctness is the practice of avoiding language or behavior considered discriminatory or offensive, especially toward socially disadvantaged groups. The phrase is also used critically to describe perceived constraints on expression.

Inclusive language: Language chosen to avoid excluding or demeaning people based on identity or circumstance. It captures the affirmative aim often associated with political correctness.
New Left: A broad political movement that emerged in the mid-twentieth century, emphasizing participatory democracy and social change. The phrase circulated within left-wing movements before its later polemical use.
Speech code: A rule that restricts or regulates expression, often in an institution or organization. Speech codes formalize some boundaries that informal norms associated with political correctness leave unwritten.
Freedom of speech: The principle that people should be free to express ideas without undue government restriction. Critics argue that political-correctness norms can chill expression, though social norms are not identical to state censorship.
Euphemism: A mild or indirect expression used instead of one considered harsh, blunt, or unpleasant. Critics often treat politically correct wording as euphemistic substitution.
Political correctness (Marxism-Leninism): Adherence to a party line judged consistent with Marxist-Leninist doctrine. This earlier political sense helped shape the phrase's later associations with ideological conformity.
Pejorative: A word or expression that conveys contempt, disapproval, or disrespect. Recognizing pejorative force is central to deciding which expressions norms discourage.
Chilling effect: A deterrent effect in which people avoid lawful expression because they fear consequences. This is a common claimed consequence of strict norms around acceptable expression.
Language ideology: A system of beliefs about how language works and how people should use it. Disputes over political correctness reveal beliefs about language, power, and social change.
United States culture wars: Political conflicts over cultural values that became especially prominent in the United States from the late twentieth century. The phrase became a major weapon in these disputes during the 1980s and 1990s.

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