Profiling - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Profiling is the process of analyzing and categorizing individuals or groups based on specific characteristics, behaviors, or patterns, often used in psychology, marketing, or law enforcement to predict actions or preferences.
Definition:
The act of analyzing and categorizing individuals based on characteristics or behavior patterns.
Synonyms:
categorization, classification, assessment, evaluation
Part of Speech:
noun, gerund
Antonyms:
generalizing, ignoring
Common Collocations:
racial profiling, criminal profiling, psychological profiling, behavioral profiling
Derivatives:
profile, profiler
Usage Tips:
Use "profiling" to describe systematic analysis of traits, often in law enforcement or psychology contexts.
Common Phrases:
racial profiling, offender profiling, psychological profiling
Etymology:
Derived from "profile," from Italian "profilo," meaning an outline or side view; extended to behavioral analysis in the 20th century.
Examples:
- 1. Police use profiling to identify potential suspects based on behavior patterns.
- 2. Racial profiling is a controversial practice in law enforcement.
- 3. Psychological profiling helps investigators understand criminal motives.
- 4. The software enables data profiling for marketing strategies.