discriminate

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

/ verb dɪˈskrɪm əˌneɪt; adjective dɪˈskrɪm ə nɪt /

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See synonyms for: discriminate / discriminating 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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Origin of discriminate

1620–30; <Latin discrīminātus separated, past participle of discrīmināre.See discriminant, -ate¹

synonym study for discriminate

3. See distinguish.

OTHER WORDS FROM discriminate

dis·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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use discriminate in a sentence

Gordon’s suit has also argued that the Utah High School Activities Association, which school districts often rely on in recommending the addition of sports, has discriminated against girls by not offering football.
Sam Gordon went viral as a football star. Now she’s suing to give more girls a chance to play.|Roman Stubbs|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Campus Pride has compiled a list of schools that openly discriminate against LGBTQ people.
Honoring victims of the Harvard Secret Court of 1920|Diego Garcia Blum|November 5, 2020|Washington Blade
In mid-August, after she partnered with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia to file a lawsuit charging that the IRS’ decision discriminated against the disabled, the IRS granted beneficiaries an additional 45 days to add their dependents.
Millions Still Haven’t Gotten Stimulus Checks, Including Many Who Need Them Most|by Lydia DePillis|October 30, 2020|ProPublica
That practice was quickly ruled illegal before it was enacted because it discriminated against low-income voters.
Fear Of Voter Intimidation Is Its Own Voter Intimidation|Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com)|October 28, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

He named homophobe Mike Pence as his vice president, who signed a bill as Indiana governor allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ customers.
Just vote|Kevin Naff|October 28, 2020|Washington Blade
Few men, I will be bold to say, put more meaning into their words than I, or choose them more deliberately and discriminately.
Anima Poet|Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The organist was in his place, his music discriminately chosen, there were guests and flowers and discreet costumes.
The Man Thou Gavest|Harriet T. Comstock
One of the themes of this book has been that laymen should use hypnosis discriminately and intelligently.
A Practical Guide to Self-Hypnosis|Melvin Powers
It is a special form of decoration, and very effective if used discriminately.
Writing & Illuminating, & Lettering|Edward Johnston
Those who speak that tongue we discriminately call Primahaitu, which is like saying Vasconyados.
Original Narratives of Early American History|Vaca and Others

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 forms of discriminate

discriminately, 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

discriminate

Origin of discriminate

synonym study for discriminate

OTHER WORDS FROM discriminate

Words related to discriminate

How to use discriminate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for discriminate

Derived forms of discriminate

Word Origin for discriminate