adj
Uncommon
discriminating
dihs-KRIH-mih-nay-tihng
Discriminating (adj) means having good judgement and a fine sense of quality; able to spot subtle differences. Example: “The restaurant caters to a discriminating clientele.”
adj
1
Having good judgement and a fine sense of quality; able to spot subtle differences.
"The restaurant caters to a discriminating clientele."
"She has a discriminating eye for good design."
How to use discriminating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving refined, careful judgement — especially about quality or taste.
Common mistake
This positive sense (fine judgement/taste) is different from "discriminating against" someone, which is negative and unfair.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
discriminating taste
discriminating palate
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more discriminating
- Superlative
- most discriminating
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The restaurant caters to a _____ clientele.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
undiscriminating
Related words
Rhymes for discriminating
See all rhymes for discriminating →Frequently asked questions
What does “discriminating” mean?
The word “discriminating” means having good judgement and a fine sense of quality; able to spot subtle differences. In plain terms, having refined, careful judgement — especially about quality or taste.
How do you pronounce “discriminating”?
“Discriminating” is pronounced dihs-KRIH-mih-nay-tihng (/dɪsˈkɹɪmɪneɪtɪŋ(ɡ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “discriminating” in a sentence?
Here is “discriminating” used in a sentence: “The restaurant caters to a discriminating clientele.”
What part of speech is “discriminating”?
“Discriminating” is an adjective.
Is “discriminating” a common word?
“Discriminating” is an uncommon word in modern English.
