discriminatory
Americanadjective
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characterized by or showing prejudicial treatment, especially as an indication of bias related to age, race, skin color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, etc..
Discriminatory practices in housing historically led to racially segregated neighborhoods.
They passed a discriminatory tax mainly impacting immigrants to the country.
adjective
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based on or showing prejudice; biased
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capable of making fine distinctions
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(of a statistical test) unbiased
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of discriminatory
First recorded in 1820–30; discriminate + -ory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"However, it is observed that a few Member States continue to maintain restrictions, discriminatory measures, and the exclusion of the Myanmar Government from equal representation."
From Barron's • May 11, 2026
The text of the Voting Rights Act is based on showing a law’s discriminatory effects.
From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026
Voting-rights activists said the majority-Black districts were necessary for the state to comply with the Voting Rights Act, the landmark 1965 law that prohibits racially discriminatory election rules.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
It also pointed to Wireless's own charter, which says the festival does not tolerate discrimination on grounds including religion and that "discriminatory words or actions have no place" at the event.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Courts also had rejected claims that crack sentencing laws were racially discriminatory, largely on the grounds that the Supreme Court’s decision in McCleskey v.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
