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.
"The need to ensure their safety in the face of crime and violence, house demolitions, discriminatory policies and budget allocations are issues on which there is room for dialogue," he said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
“The bigger issue is that capital markets are becoming more discriminatory toward AI, particularly around anything reliant on external financing,” O’Regan said in a note to clients.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
Leading doctors have described the situation as "discriminatory" and argued that the lack of access on the NHS is widening health inequalities.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
A statement from IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said private schools that promote discriminatory practices will no longer be exempt from taxes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Laws that said nothing about race operated to discriminate because those charged with enforcement were granted tremendous discretion, and they exercised that discretion in a highly discriminatory manner.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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