harassment har‧ass‧ment [ˈhærəsmənt, həˈræsmənt] noun [uncountable]
LAW HUMAN RESOURCES when someone is treated in an unpleasant or threatening way:
• The alleged harassment took place at the company's head office.
ˌracial ˈharassment LAW HUMAN RESOURCES
harassment of someone because of their race:
• He alleged persistent racial harassment by his colleagues.
ˌsexual ˈharassment LAW HUMAN RESOURCES
harassment of someone because of their sex:
• There have been a number of sexual harassment complaints.
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harassment UK US /ˈhærəsmənt/ noun [U]
► LAW illegal behaviour towards a person that causes mental or emotional suffering, which includes repeated unwanted contacts without a reasonable purpose, insults, threats, touching, or offensive language: »
The company investigated claims of workplace harassment and racial discrimination.
»Victims of harassment are able to take action in the courts to obtain damages.
»to be subject/subjected to harassment
► behaviour towards someone that is threatening or that annoys or upsets them: »
As many as 1 in 3 teens who use the Internet had experienced some form of harassment online.
Financial and business terms. 2012.