discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
di-ˈskri-mə-nə-ˌtȯr-ē 
-ˈskrim-nə-
2
: applying or favoring discrimination in treatment
Examples of discriminatory in a Sentence
The law prohibits discriminatory hiring practices.
a company that was fined for its discriminatory practices in the hiring of women
Recent Examples on the Web
But the Justice Department also argued that the IRS lacked the authority to revoke or deny the schools’ exemptions on the basis that their discriminatory policies contradicted public policy.
—
Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
From their questioning of lawyers arguing on either side of the case, the majority of justices appeared open to the idea that excluding religious institutions from Oklahoma’s charter school system is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
The Internal Revenue Service revoked its tax exemption for having a racially discriminatory policy, leading to years of litigation that landed in the Supreme Court’s lap in 1982.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 May 2025
On April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suggesting schools have been using racially discriminatory discipline policies.
—F. Chris Curran, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discriminatory
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Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
From their questioning of lawyers arguing on either side of the case, the majority of justices appeared open to the idea that excluding religious institutions from Oklahoma’s charter school system is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
The Internal Revenue Service revoked its tax exemption for having a racially discriminatory policy, leading to years of litigation that landed in the Supreme Court’s lap in 1982.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 May 2025
On April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suggesting schools have been using racially discriminatory discipline policies.
—F. Chris Curran, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discriminatory
Cite this Entry
“Discriminatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discriminatory. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
dis-ˈkrim-(ə-)nə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
: showing discrimination : being unfair
discriminatory treatment
Legal Definition
discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
dis-ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌtōr-ē
1
: applying discrimination in treatment
2
: having unlawful discrimination as an effect
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