discriminate

verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate di-ˈskri-mə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

transitive verb

1

a

: to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of

Depth perception may be defined as the ability to appreciate or discriminate the third dimension …

—H. G. Armstrong

b

: distinguish, differentiate

discriminate hundreds of colors

2

: to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct

discriminate right from wrong

especially : to distinguish from another like object

discriminate the individual voices in the choir

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a distinction

discriminate among historical sources

discriminates between literary fiction and popular fiction

b

: to use good judgment

2

: to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit

discriminate in favor of your friends

discriminate against a certain nationality

Did you know?

Although many methods or motives for discriminating are unfair and undesirable (or even illegal), the verb itself has a neutral history. English speakers borrowed it from the past participle of the Latin verb discriminare (meaning "to distinguish or differentiate"), which, itself, is derived from the verb discernere, meaning "to distinguish between." Discernere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix dis- (meaning "apart") and cernere ("to sift"). Other descendants of discernere include discern and discernible (as you no doubt guessed), discreet, and indiscretion. In addition, the root cernere gives us concern, certain, decree, and even secret.

Synonyms

• difference
• differentiate
• discern
• distinguish
• secern
• separate

Examples of discriminate in a Sentence

The school is not allowed to discriminate.

the human eye can discriminate between very slight gradations of color

Recent Examples on the Web

Rocket Mortgage, the nation’s largest retail mortgage lender, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking dismissal of a claim that the lender retaliated against a Black woman who says she was racially discriminated against in a mortgage refinance. —Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024

The federal investigation was not limited to Nichols's death but sought to examine whether the Memphis police force inappropriately targeted Black residents on traffic stops and discriminated more broadly against Black people. —David Nakamura The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 5 Dec. 2024

The District of Columbia’s lawsuit alleges there are roughly 48,000 people living in the two neighborhoods who are signed up for a Prime membership and are being discriminated against by the $2.29 trillion dollar company. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Cornell law professor and founder of the Equal Protection Project, William Jacobson, said that his hope is that students who were allegedly discriminated against can be vindicated. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare, from discrimin-, discrimen distinction, from discernere to distinguish between — more at discern

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

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Kids Definition

discriminate

verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate dis-ˈkrim-ə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

1

a

: to see the special features of

discriminate the geologic features of an area

b

: distinguish sense 1, differentiate

discriminate hundreds of colors

2

: to be able to tell the difference especially between similar things

discriminate between a tree and a bush

3

: to treat some people better than others without any fair or proper reason

discriminable

-ə-nə-bəl

adjective

Medical Definition

discriminate

verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate dis-ˈkrim-ə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

transitive verb

: to respond selectively to (a stimulus)

intransitive verb

: to respond selectively

the capacity of organisms to discriminate

—J. A. Swets

Legal Definition

discriminate

intransitive verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate dis-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

: to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit

especially : to make a difference in treatment on a basis prohibited by law (as national origin, race, sex, religion, age, or disability) see also bona fide occupational qualification, equal protection, reverse discrimination, suspect class, Civil Rights Act of 1964

discrimination

dis-ˌkri-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun