discriminate
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/
ipa: /dɪˈskɹɪm.əˌneɪt/
ipa: /dɪˈskɹɪm.əˌnæɪt/
ipa: /dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.nət/
Forms: form: discriminates
form: discriminating
form: discriminated
form: discriminated
Etymology: First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin discrīminātus, perfect passive participle of discrīminō (“to divide, separate, distinguish”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from discrīmen (“a space between, division, separation, distinction”), from discernō (“to divide, separate, distinguish, discern”).
Senses: examples: text: Since he was color blind he was unable to discriminate between the blue and green bottles.
glosses: To make distinctions.
examples: text: Low self-esteem can affect both rich and poor people: it doesn't discriminate.
glosses: To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
examples: text: The law prohibits discriminating against people based on their skin color.
text: “The more a young person is discriminated against, the more likely they will experience emotional difficulties including depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues and even suicidal ideation,” said Duffy, who specializes in work with teens, parents, couples and families, and wrote the book “Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety.”
ref: 2021 November 8, Kristen Rogers, “Discrimination of any kind can lead to much higher risk of mental and behavioral issues for young people, study finds”, in CNN:
text: The Office for Civil Rights said that it sent letters under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans any institution receiving federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, and national origin.
ref: 2025 March 10, Karina Tsui and Elizabeth Wolfe, “Department of Education investigating 60 colleges and universities over antisemitism claims”, in CNN:
glosses: To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
To make decisions harmful to (a person or group) based on prejudice.
raw_tags: construed with against
examples: text: The ordinance condones immorality and discriminates against my children's rights to grow up in a healthy, decent community.
ref: 1977 January 19, Anita Bryant, quotee, “Bias Against Homosexuals Is Outlawed in Miami”, in The New York Times, page 14:
text: There's also expected to be a ruling out of Washington over Texas' efforts to impose a restrictive new voter law that many minority groups allege discriminates against their right to vote.
ref: 2012 August 28, “Federal court finds discrimination in new Texas voting maps”, in CBS News:
text: Under the RHA, a person can sue the State of Illinois or local governments like cities and counties if they improperly deny, interfere with, or discriminate against the person’s fundamental rights to make their own reproductive health decisions.
ref: 2019 June 20, “Illinois Reproductive Health Act FAQ”, in ACLU Illinois, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2019:
glosses: To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
To infringe upon (a person's rights) in a prejudicial manner.
raw_tags: construed with against
examples: text: To discriminate the goats from the sheep.
ref: 1670-7, Isaac Barrow, “Sermon XX: Against rash Censuring and Judging”, in The Theological Works, volume 1, published 1818, page 448:
text: Still stranger much, that when at length mankind
Had reach'd the sinewy firmness of their youth,
And could discriminate and argue well
On subjects more mysterious
ref: 1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC:
glosses: To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
Synonyms: sense: make distinctions
word: distinguish
word: differentiate
word: tell apart
sense: make decisions based on prejudice
word: disfavor
Derived terms: discrimination
discriminative
discriminator
discriminatory
price discriminate
undiscriminated
Related terms: crime
discern
discreet
discrete