anti-racism

The word is a modern compound formed in English. The prefix 'anti-', with ancient Greek origins meaning "against", was attached to the noun 'racism', which emerged in the early 20th century from the French 'racisme'. 'Racisme' itself derives from 'race', a term with obscure etymology that entered European languages around the 16th century, combined with the productive suffix '-ism' used to form nouns indicating doctrines or systems. Thus, 'anti-racism' literally constructs the concept of being "against the system or doctrine of racial discrimination," directly opposing the ideology it names. Its formation follows a clear and logical compounding pattern common in English for creating terms of opposition.

Structure: anti (against) + racism (racial prejudice) - anti: From Greek via Latin, meaning "against" or "opposite of". It functions as a prefix. - racism: From French 'racisme', built on the root 'race' (of uncertain origin, possibly Italian 'razza') + the noun-forming suffix '-ism', denoting a practice, system, or principle.