discriminatory

American  

[dih-skrim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / dɪˈskrɪm ə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. characterized by or showing prejudicial treatment, especially as an indication of bias related to age, race, skin color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, etc..

   Discriminatory practices in housing historically led to racially segregated neighborhoods.

   They passed a discriminatory tax mainly impacting immigrants to the country.

2. discriminative.

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discriminatory British  

/ -trɪ, dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɪv, dɪˈskrɪmɪnətərɪ /

adjective

1. based on or showing prejudice; biased

2. capable of making fine distinctions

3. (of a statistical test) unbiased

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Other Word Forms

• discriminatorily adverb
• nondiscriminatory adjective
• undiscriminatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of discriminatory

First recorded in 1820–30; discriminate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

County said in a statement none of the reviews of the fire response has found “any discriminatory or structural bias in the County’s response.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

The lawsuit doesn’t accuse Harvard of conducting discriminatory conduct but is seeking a court injunction that would force the university to comply with its demand for documents.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

A dispute that saw South Korea's players threaten to boycott next month's Women's Asian Cup over "discriminatory conditions" has been resolved, football officials in the country said Tuesday.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

But ADUK, the umbrella charity representing many assistance dog users, said it believed the policy was discriminatory.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

The wind, it seems, isn’t discriminatory in which kind of plant pollen it blows.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

Related Words

• biased
• inequitable
• prejudiced
• unfair