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
Derived 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.
In dissent, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, said the Mississippi state courts had concluded that Pitchford’s trial team had forfeited a portion of their argument about racially discriminatory jury selection.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
He added that education, rather than "punitive punishment", is the solution to children displaying discriminatory behaviour where it comes from a "lack of understanding and without intention to offend".
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Carr said the review stemmed from a probe into whether the network’s diversity programs were discriminatory and that they had had nothing to do with the latest Kimmel kerfuffle.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
"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
Under the regulations, a federally funded law enforcement program or activity is unlawful if it has a racially discriminatory impact and if that impact cannot be justified by law enforcement necessity.
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.
