discriminate

verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate di-ˈskri-mə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

intransitive verb

1

: to unfairly treat a person or group differently from other people or groups on a class or categorical basis (as race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation)

to illegally/unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex/race/age

… the court ruled the ID law was intended to discriminate against voters of color …

—Laura Kusisto

2

a

: to make a distinction

… depression doesn't discriminate and can affect people from all walks of life.

—Nikki Brown

b

: to use good judgment

fostering an ability to discriminate

transitive verb

1

a

: to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of

Depth perception may be defined as the ability to appreciate or discriminate the third dimension …

—H. G. Armstrong

b

: distinguish, differentiate

discriminate hundreds of colors

2

: to recognize or identify as separate and distinct

discriminate right from wrong

especially : to distinguish from another like object

discriminate the individual voices in the choir

Did you know?

Although many methods or motives for discriminating are unfair and undesirable (or even illegal), the verb itself has a neutral history. English speakers borrowed it from the past participle of the Latin verb discriminare (meaning "to distinguish or differentiate"), which, itself, is derived from the verb discernere, meaning "to distinguish between." Discernere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix dis- (meaning "apart") and cernere ("to sift"). Other descendants of discernere include discern and discernible (as you no doubt guessed), discreet, and indiscretion. In addition, the root cernere gives us concern, certain, decree, and even secret.

Synonyms of discriminate

• differentiate
• distinguish

Examples of discriminate in a Sentence

The school is not allowed to discriminate.

the human eye can discriminate between very slight gradations of color

Recent Examples on the Web

The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order preventing the board and Cavin from taking any further action in their cases, as well as an injunction restraining Cavin and the board from discriminating against, or retaliating against, Mejia and Smith. —Clark Kauffman, Des Moines Register, 14 Jan. 2026

Both argue the state laws unlawfully discriminate against them, placing the Supreme Court at the center of a legal debate playing out across the country. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026

Extending the same rule to all law enforcement officers, Abarca said, would aim to hold ICE accountable while avoiding discriminating against the agency specifically. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2026

In Campbell Union High School District, the state conducted its own investigation rather than reviewing a district decision on appeal and found that course materials in an ethnic studies class discriminated against Jewish students. —Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare, from discrimin-, discrimen distinction, from discernere to distinguish between — more at discern

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Rhymes for discriminate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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Kids Definition

discriminate

verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate dis-ˈkrim-ə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

1

a

: to see the special features of

discriminate the geologic features of an area

b

: distinguish sense 1, differentiate

discriminate hundreds of colors

2

: to be able to tell the difference especially between similar things

discriminate between a tree and a bush

3

: to treat some people better than others without any fair or proper reason

discriminable

-ə-nə-bəl

adjective

Medical Definition

discriminate

verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate dis-ˈkrim-ə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

transitive verb

: to respond selectively to (a stimulus)

intransitive verb

: to respond selectively

the capacity of organisms to discriminate

—J. A. Swets

Legal Definition

discriminate

intransitive verb

dis·​crim·​i·​nate dis-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt 

discriminated; discriminating

: to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit

especially : to make a difference in treatment on a basis prohibited by law (as national origin, race, sex, religion, age, or disability) see also bona fide occupational qualification, equal protection, reverse discrimination, suspect class, Civil Rights Act of 1964

discrimination

dis-ˌkri-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun