Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
speciesism
meaning “discrimination or prejudice directed against other species, resulting from a belief that the human species has primacy over all,” is a current vogue word among some environmentalists and proponents of animal rights. This word, made on analogy with other -ism words (among them ageism, racism, and sexism, all of which see), currently requires a self-defining context if it is to communicate anything to people not already familiar with it. It may disappear as quickly as it appeared, but, in the meantime, use it with care. See POLITICALLY CORRECT.
