In the UK, a company's policy of favouring a disadvantaged (because of race, sex, etc.,) group by making sure that jobs are given to people in these groups.

Treating someone with a protected characteristic more favourably to counteract the effects of past discrimination. It is generally not lawful although the duty to make reasonable adjustments is an exc [..]

Giving special privileges to a historically disadvantaged group -- often defined by race. Preferential access to education offered to African Americans in the U.S., and reservation of a minimum quota [..]

favored treatment, particularly in work or school settings, of people which might be at a disadvantage.

a term with the same meaning as affirmative action.

This term refers to a process which seeks to redress the under-representation of defined “racial” groups in particular occupations, status groups (for example, managers) and courses by skewing competi [..]

an approach to redressing inequalities of various sorts where extra support or favourable treatment is afforded to disadvantaged groups (see affirmative action).

Giving disadvantaged groups more favourable treatment than others to make up for the disadvantages they face.

Measures targeted at a particular group and intended to eliminate and prevent discrimination or to offset disadvantages arising from existing attitudes, behaviors and structures (sometimes referred to as positive discrimination).