Standard Lemma guide

microaggression

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˌmaɪ.krəʊ.əˈɡrɛ.ʃən/
  • US: /ˌmaɪ.kroʊ.əˈɡrɛ.ʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any small-scale verbal or physical interaction between those of different races, cultures, beliefs, or genders that may have no malicious intent, but that can be interpreted as an aggression.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, sciences, social-science, sociology

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: microassault, microinequity, microinsult, microinvalidation, nanoaggression

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: microassault, microinequity, microinsult, microinvalidation, nanoaggression

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English micro- Proto-Indo-European *h2éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *ghredh-der. Latin gradior Latin aggredior Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin aggressiōder. Middle French aggressionbor. English aggression English microaggression From micro- + aggression, coined by American psychiatrist Chester M. Pierce in 1970.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: microagressió — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Chinese Mandarin: 微歧視 /微歧视 — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Finnish: mikroaggressio — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • French: micro-agression — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • German: Mikroaggression — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Korean: 미세공격 (misegonggyeok) — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Norwegian Bokmål: mikroaggressjon — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: mikroaggressjon — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Polish: mikroagresja — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Portuguese: microagressão — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Russian: микроагрессия (mikroagressija) — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Spanish: microagresión — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression
  • Swedish: mikroaggression — everyday interaction interpreted as aggression