definitions

discriminatory

[ dih-skrim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
/ dɪˈskrɪm ə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discriminatory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by or showing prejudicial treatment, especially as an indication of bias related to age, color, national origin, religion, sex, etc.: discriminatory practices in housing; a discriminatory tax.
discriminative(defs 1, 2).

Nearby words

discriminating, discrimination, discrimination learning, discriminative, discriminator, discriminatory, discrown, discursion, discursive, discus, discuss

Origin of discriminatory

First recorded in 1820–30; discriminate + -ory1

Related forms

dis·crim·i·na·to·ri·ly, adverbnon·dis·crim·i·na·to·ry, adjectiveun·dis·crim·i·na·to·ry, adjective

Can be confused

discriminating discriminatory
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for nondiscriminatory

discriminatory

discriminative (dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɪv)

/ (dɪˈskrɪmɪnətərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

based on or showing prejudice; biased
capable of making fine distinctions
(of a statistical test) unbiased

Derived Forms

discriminatorily or discriminatively, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012