Environmental Justice Comprehensive Glossary

What this resource is and how to use it

This glossary provides 64 terms essential to environmental justice work in Massachusetts. Each term includes a definition with source attribution, context and etymology, evolving perspectives, alternative definitions and MA-specific guidance for state staff. The glossary is designed for people with different starting points, from newcomers exploring EJ for the first time to experienced practitioners looking for MA-specific application guidance.

Use the search bar to find specific terms, filter by category or relevance rating, or browse alphabetically. Click any term to expand its full profile. The "Commonly Confused Pairs" section at the bottom addresses 11 terms that are frequently mixed up in EJ work.

A living resource, not a definitive source. Language in the EJ field is evolving, and multiple valid definitions exist for many terms. Every definition includes a live source link so you can explore the original context. This glossary will be continually updated based on user input, new research and evolving practice.

Explore the full EJ training resource collection

EJ Glossary of Terms80+ terms with definitions, context, evolving perspectives and MA-specific guidance EJ Scholar Deep Profiles14 scholars and thought leaders shaping EJ policy, science and practice Founding Generation EJ Scholars8 pioneering scholars and activists who built the field of environmental justice State EJ Landscape Research16 states and federal resources with EJ programs, policies and models National EJ LandscapeFederal agencies, national organizations and cross-cutting EJ resources Cutting-Edge EJ ResearchEmerging research, tools and innovative approaches in environmental justice EJ Training Curricula and ModelsTraining programs, toolkits and learning resources from across the field JEDI-CAB Quality FrameworkHow the framework was applied to these resources and prompts for your own work