The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an agency established to enforce federal laws that prohibit discrimination against job applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national original, age, disability and genetic information. There are a few synonyms for the term EEOC which can be used interchangeably in certain situations. These include "Equal Employment Opportunity Agency", "Discrimination Watchdog", "Equal Opportunity Regulator" and "Employment Rights Commission". While these synonyms may not be as commonly used as the term EEOC, they still accurately describe the agency's role in promoting equal opportunity and protecting the rights of workers in the United States.