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definitions

discriminate

[ verb dih-skrim-uh-neyt; adjective dih-skrim-uh-nit ]
/ verb dɪˈskrɪm əˌneɪt; adjective dɪˈskrɪm ə nɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discriminate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing.

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.
to note or observe a difference; distinguish accurately: to discriminate between things.

verb (used with object), dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing.

to make or constitute a distinction in or between; differentiate: a mark that discriminates the original from the copy.
to note or distinguish as different: He can discriminate minute variations in tone.

adjective

marked by discrimination; making or evidencing nice distinctions: discriminate people; discriminate judgments.

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RELATED WORDS

segregate, evaluate, specify, assess, discern, incline, separate, favor, judge, disfavor, hate, victimize, contradistinguish, compare, remark, perceive, extricate, note, sift, know

Nearby words

discretionary trust, discretization, discriminable, discriminant, discriminant function, discriminate, discriminating, discrimination, discrimination learning, discriminative, discriminator

Origin of discriminate

1620–30; < Latin discrīminātus separated, past participle of discrīmināre. See discriminant, -ate1
Related formsdis·crim·i·nate·ly, adverbhalf-dis·crim·i·nat·ed, adjectivepre·dis·crim·i·nate, verb (used with object), pre·dis·crim·i·nat·ed, pre·dis·crim·i·nat·ing.un·dis·crim·i·nat·ed, adjective

Synonym study

3. See distinguish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for discriminate

British Dictionary definitions for discriminate

discriminate

verb (dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪt)

(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
(when intr, foll by between or among) to recognize or understand the difference (between); distinguishto discriminate right and wrong; to discriminate between right and wrong
(intr) to constitute or mark a difference
(intr) to be discerning in matters of taste

adjective (dɪˈskrɪmɪnɪt)

showing or marked by discrimination
Derived Formsdiscriminately, adverbdiscriminator, noun

Word Origin for discriminate

C17: from Latin discrīmināre to divide, from discrīmen a separation, from discernere to discern
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012