discriminating

American  

[dih-skrim-uh-ney-ting] / dɪˈskrɪm əˌneɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

1. able to distinguish differences or distinctions; differentiating; analytic.

2. noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning; perspicacious.

   a discriminating interpreter of events.

3. having excellent taste or judgment.

   a discriminating interior designer.

4. differential, as a tariff.

5. possessing distinctive features; capable of being differentiated; discriminative.

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discriminating British  

/ dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. able to see fine distinctions and differences

2. discerning in matters of taste

3. (of a tariff, import duty, etc) levied at differential rates in order to favour or discourage imports or exports

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Other Word Forms

• discriminatingly adverb
• half-discriminating adjective
• half-discriminatingly adverb
• nondiscriminating adjective
• nondiscriminatingly adverb
• overdiscriminating adjective
• overdiscriminatingly adverb
• quasi-discriminating adjective
• quasi-discriminatingly adverb
• undiscriminating adjective
• undiscriminatingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of discriminating

First recorded in 1640–50; discriminat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Podhoretz’s political commitments didn’t require him to be any less discriminating a literary critic.

From The Wall Street Journal

Norman’s first ambition, to become a critic, cultivated his independent, informed and discriminating judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal

As Chief Justice John Roberts observed in another case, “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

From The Wall Street Journal

She also now accuses NHS Fife of discriminating against her, and its director of people and culture, David Miller, of harassment.

From BBC

Lyell, a discriminating reader, responded to Welty’s work with care and precision.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• astute
• choosy
• discerning
• eclectic
• fastidious
• finicky
• fussy
• refined
• selective