discriminatory

American  

[dih-skrim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / dɪˈskrɪm ə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. 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.

2. discriminative.

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discriminatory British  

/ -trɪ, dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɪv, dɪˈskrɪmɪnətərɪ /

adjective

1. based on or showing prejudice; biased

2. capable of making fine distinctions

3. (of a statistical test) unbiased

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Other Word Forms

• discriminatorily adverb
• nondiscriminatory adjective
• undiscriminatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of discriminatory

First recorded in 1820–30; discriminate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

County said in a statement none of the reviews of the fire response has found “any discriminatory or structural bias in the County’s response.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

The lawsuit doesn’t accuse Harvard of conducting discriminatory conduct but is seeking a court injunction that would force the university to comply with its demand for documents.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

The charity Assistance Dogs UK said it believed, from its understanding of the law, that the pub chain's policy was discriminatory and that no identification was legally required.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

Beijing accused the European Union on Wednesday of taking "discriminatory" measures after the bloc opened an investigation into Chinese clean energy giant Goldwind over concerns the firm unfairly benefitted from state subsidies.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 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

Related Words

• biased
• inequitable
• prejudiced
• unfair