profiling
noun
pro·fil·ing
ˈprō-ˌfī-liŋ 
: the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies
consumer profiling
specifically
: the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior
racial profiling
Examples of profiling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People worry that an insurance company might buy it and use the data to withhold coverage; or that it could be used for genetic profiling to discriminate against people based on health or demographic characteristics; or it might be shared with law enforcement for prosecutions.
—
Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Lee, a Taiwanese American, was later cleared of wrongdoing, and the case was widely criticized for racial profiling.
—Sheon Han, Wired News, 27 Mar. 2025
The 2001 Patriot Act, which greatly expanded law enforcement surveillance, exacerbated racial profiling in the name of national security.
—Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 27 Mar. 2025
Mary Jo knows that the promise of free food will lure anyone to a dry sales pitch on profiling.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profiling
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Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Lee, a Taiwanese American, was later cleared of wrongdoing, and the case was widely criticized for racial profiling.
—Sheon Han, Wired News, 27 Mar. 2025
The 2001 Patriot Act, which greatly expanded law enforcement surveillance, exacerbated racial profiling in the name of national security.
—Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 27 Mar. 2025
Mary Jo knows that the promise of free food will lure anyone to a dry sales pitch on profiling.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profiling
Cite this Entry
“Profiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profiling. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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