discriminate

[ verb dih-skrim-uh-neyt; adjective dih-skrim-uh-nit ]

verb (used without object)

, dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing.

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)

, dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing.

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. whenintr, foll by between or among to recognize or understand the difference (between); distinguish

   to discriminate between right and wrong

   to discriminate 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

Derived Forms

• disˈcrimiˌnator, noun
• disˈcriminately, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·crimi·nate·ly adverb
• half-dis·crimi·nated adjective
• predis·crimi·nate verb (used with object) prediscriminated prediscriminating
• undis·crimi·nated adjective

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

Republicans want to alter Section 230 to stop platforms from discriminating against conservative voices by removing accounts or censoring posts deemed to be hate speech, disinformation or other content that incites violence.

From Digiday

They are, at their core, an attempt to create a taxpayer-funded invitation to discriminate.

From Washington Post

Bitcoin is neutral like cash, and can’t discriminate between good and bad.

From Time

In effect, the laws prevented practices like paid prioritization, in which faster connections went to companies willing to pay fees to ISPs, or blocking, which would allow companies to discriminate against lawful content.

From Popular-Science

For the court to decide otherwise, it would mandate that the city discriminate.

From Washington Blade

Allowing some people to discriminate sends the message that discrimination is okay.

From The Daily Beast

State RFRAs would allow businesses owners to legally discriminate against same-sex couples.

From The Daily Beast

Allow small businesses—for-profit wedding chapels, caterers, florists—to discriminate against gays.

From The Daily Beast

Yup, Evelyn and Donald Knapp are “ordained Christian ministers” suing for the right to discriminate.

From The Daily Beast

Not wanting to discriminate against low-income clients, though, she scheduled the appointment.

From The Daily Beast

Nor can a telegraph company discriminate against another in refusing credit which is given to other responsible parties.

From Project Gutenberg

But she was quick to discriminate between usurpation, and legal authority.

From Project Gutenberg

She is brother's-daughter of his Mother, Sophie Charlotte: let the reader learn to discriminate these two names.

From Project Gutenberg

I'll be better qualified after this to discriminate between the false and true.

From Project Gutenberg

Again, we find the Tojin baka often fail to discriminate between different classes of females.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assess
• discern
• distinguish between
• evaluate
• narrow down
• segregate
• specify