discriminate
dih-SKRIHM-ih-nayt
Discriminate (verb) means to treat a person or group unfairly because of a characteristic such as race, age, or gender. Example: “It is illegal to discriminate against employees on the basis of age.”
verb
1
To treat a person or group unfairly because of a characteristic such as race, age, or gender.
"It is illegal to discriminate against employees on the basis of age."
"The policy was accused of discriminating against smaller businesses."
2
To recognize a difference between things.
"A skilled taster can discriminate between subtly different wines."
How to use discriminate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo treat people unfairly based on a trait, or (in a more neutral, older sense) to tell things apart.
When to use it
The unfair-treatment sense is by far the most common in everyday modern use.
Common pairings
discriminate against
discriminate on the basis of
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- discriminates
- Past tense
- discriminated
- Comparative
- more discriminate
- Superlative
- most discriminate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It is illegal to _____ against employees on the basis of age.
Etymology
From Latin discriminare, "to divide, distinguish," from discrimen, "a dividing line" — from discernere, "to separate, discern."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for discriminate
See all rhymes for discriminate →Frequently asked questions
What does “discriminate” mean?
The word “discriminate” means to treat a person or group unfairly because of a characteristic such as race, age, or gender. In plain terms, to treat people unfairly based on a trait, or (in a more neutral, older sense) to tell things apart.
How do you pronounce “discriminate”?
“Discriminate” is pronounced dih-SKRIHM-ih-nayt (/dɪˈskɹɪm.əˌneɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “discriminate” in a sentence?
Here is “discriminate” used in a sentence: “It is illegal to discriminate against employees on the basis of age.”
What is another word for “discriminate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “discriminate” include differentiate.
What is the opposite of “discriminate”?
The opposite of “discriminate” — its antonyms — is favor.
What part of speech is “discriminate”?
“Discriminate” is a verb.
Where does the word “discriminate” come from?
The word “discriminate” comes from Latin. From Latin discriminare, "to divide, distinguish," from discrimen, "a dividing line" — from discernere, "to separate, discern.".
Is “discriminate” a common word?
“Discriminate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
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