discriminate

[dih-skrim-uh-neyt, dih-skrim-uh-nit]

verb (used without object)

discriminated, discriminating 

1. to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit; show partiality.

   The new law discriminates against foreigners. He discriminates in favor of his relatives.

2. to note or observe a difference; distinguish accurately.

   to discriminate between things.

verb (used with object)

discriminated, discriminating 

1. to make or constitute a distinction in or between; differentiate.

   a mark that discriminates the original from the copy.

2. to note or distinguish as different.

   He can discriminate minute variations in tone.

adjective

1. marked by discrimination; making or evidencing nice distinctions.

   discriminate people; discriminate judgments.

discriminate

verb

1. (intr; usually foll by in favour of or against) to single out a particular person, group, etc, for special favour or, esp, disfavour, often because of a characteristic such as race, colour, sex, intelligence, etc

2. to recognize or understand the difference (between); distinguish

   to discriminate right and wrong

   to discriminate between right and wrong

3. (intr) to constitute or mark a difference

4. (intr) to be discerning in matters of taste

adjective

1. showing or marked by discrimination

Other Word Forms

• discriminately adverb
• half-discriminated adjective
• prediscriminate verb (used with object)
• undiscriminated adjective
• discriminator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discriminate¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin discrīminātus “separated,” past participle of discrīmināre “to separate”; discriminant

Word History and Origins

Origin of discriminate¹

C17: from Latin discrīmināre to divide, from discrīmen a separation, from discernere to _discern

Synonym Study

See distinguish.

Example Sentences

It also forbade the use of federal funds for anything that discriminated against anyone, and authorized the federal government to enforce the integration of schools and penalize schools that didn’t comply.

Read more on Literature

“California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents,” Bondi said in a statement.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Eli asks: “Why is it that today, when you cannot by law discriminate on the basis of race, we literally organize our whole culture around race?”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It also claims the map intentionally discriminates on racial grounds in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

PBMs have perverse incentives to discriminate against the sick in favor of the healthy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assess 
• discern 
• distinguish between www.thesaurus.com
• evaluate 
• narrow down www.thesaurus.com
• segregate 
• specify