discrimination
dihsk-rih-mih-NAY-shuhn
Discrimination (noun) means Unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics like race, gender, or age. Example: “The company was sued for racial discrimination in hiring.”
noun
1
Unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics like race, gender, or age.
"The company was sued for racial discrimination in hiring."
"Laws now protect workers from age discrimination."
"Many countries have laws against discrimination in the workplace and in housing."
2
The ability to notice fine differences between things.
"Her discrimination in matters of taste made her an excellent art critic."
"Wine tasters need great discrimination to tell similar vintages apart."
"Babies show early discrimination between their mother's voice and a stranger's."
How to use discrimination
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnjust treatment based on group identity, or (less commonly) the skill of telling fine differences apart.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
racial discrimination
gender discrimination
face discrimination
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Word forms
- Plural
- discriminations
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The company was sued for racial _____ in hiring.
Etymology
From Latin discriminatio, the noun form of discriminare, "to distinguish, separate."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for discrimination
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for discrimination →
Frequently asked questions
What does “discrimination” mean?
The word “discrimination” means unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics like race, gender, or age. In plain terms, unjust treatment based on group identity, or (less commonly) the skill of telling fine differences apart.
How do you pronounce “discrimination”?
“Discrimination” is pronounced dihsk-rih-mih-NAY-shuhn (/dɪˌskɹɪm.əˈneɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “discrimination” in a sentence?
Here is “discrimination” used in a sentence: “The company was sued for racial discrimination in hiring.”
What part of speech is “discrimination”?
“Discrimination” is a noun.
Where does the word “discrimination” come from?
The word “discrimination” comes from Latin. From Latin discriminatio, the noun form of discriminare, "to distinguish, separate.".
Is “discrimination” a common word?
“Discrimination” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “discrimination” have?
“Discrimination” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics like race, gender, or age.
What is the difference between discrimination and prejudice?
Prejudice is a preconceived attitude or belief about a person or group, held in the mind. Discrimination is the outward action of treating people unfairly based on characteristics like race, gender, or age, so prejudice is the attitude and discrimination is the behaviour it can lead to.
What is the difference between discrimination and racism?
Racism is prejudice or discrimination directed specifically at people because of their race or ethnicity. Discrimination is the wider term, covering unfair treatment based on many characteristics such as gender, age, disability, or religion as well as race.
Can 'discrimination' be a positive word?
Yes, in one sense 'discrimination' means the ability to notice fine differences between things, which is a positive quality, as in 'discrimination in choosing fine wine.' This meaning is neutral or admiring and is quite different from the negative sense of unfair treatment.
What is the difference between discrimination and bias?
Bias is a tendency to favour or oppose someone or something, often unconsciously, while discrimination is the unfair treatment that can result from acting on such a tendency. Bias describes an inclination, whereas discrimination describes concrete unfair actions.
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