Definition of "lookism" [lookism]

• Discrimination or prejudice against people based on their appearance. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "To help prove her point that the absence of funny women on TV is due to that brand of sexism known as lookism and that if Hollywood allowed more goofy looking women on screen there would be more funny women, Belle points to Michael Richards who played Kramer on Seinfeld."
• "Apologies to those concerned with "lookism" directed at women."
• "And Dr. C and C: yes, that's part of what bothers me, though I think it makes a kind of sense--we're always told of studies that show that people are more inclined to trust and believe competent, intelligent, etc., those whom they rate as good-looking, and though part of that may be simple "lookism," I suspect it's more complicated than that, esp. for women."