discriminate

verb dis·crim·i·nate \ dis-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Examples: discriminate in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of discriminate

discriminated; discriminating

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 distinguish by discerning or exposing differences : 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

intransitive verb

1 a : to make a distinction

discriminate among historical sources

discriminates between literary fiction and popular fiction

b : to use good judgment

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

discriminate in favor of your friends

discriminate against a certain nationality

See discriminate defined for English-language learners

See discriminate defined for kids

discriminate was our Word of the Day on 11/04/2011. Hear the podcast!

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 of discriminate from the Web

And most importantly, the marker of good taste has swung in the opposite direction: toward inclusiveness and shareability, toward a big tent that discriminates against no style or genre.

— ryu spaeth, The New Republic, "What Happened to the Cool Jerk of Indie Rock?," 4 June 2018
Thus did a gay couple's claim of discrimination by Phillips result in a 7-2 ruling that Phillips was the one discriminated against.

— richard wolf, USA TODAY, "Five takeaways from Supreme Court's decision in favor of Colorado baker who turned away gay couple," 4 June 2018
That section prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or being a member of a certain language-minority group.

— chris fuchs /, NBC News, "U.S.'s Pacific Islander community is growing fast, but advocates worry the census won't count them," 29 May 2018
And that we are treated as equals and not discriminated against.

— lena jackson, brenda medina and kyra gurney, miamiherald, "These immigrants came for a better education. Now, they'll never graduate high school | Miami Herald," 16 May 2018
Herster's lawsuit accused LSU and several people in the art school and human resources department of unlawful retaliation, as well as state and federal labor law violations by discriminating against her based on her gender.

— wilborn p. nobles iii, NOLA.com, "Ex-LSU instructor hopes to take discrimination claims to Supreme Court," 9 May 2018
Other ways in which women are discriminated against are also drawing attention.

— The Economist, "A rare victory for #MeToo in Japan," 26 Apr. 2018
Chastity Jones has been involved in legal battles since 2013, when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit on her behalf claiming a Mobile company racially discriminated against Jones because of her hair.

— ivana hrynkiw, AL.com, "Woman with dreadlocks says Mobile company wouldn't hire her, appeals to Supreme Court," 23 Apr. 2018
Starbucks has apologized to the men and will be training all of its employees on how to avoid discriminating against customers.

— michelle miller, CBS News, ""I failed miserably in that regard": Philadelphia police commissioner responds after week of controversy," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discriminate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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, itself from the verb discernere, meaning "to distinguish between." "Discernere," in turn, was formed by combining the prefix dis- 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."

Origin and Etymology of discriminate

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1615

in the meaning defined at sense 1b

See Words from the same year

discriminate Synonyms

DISCRIMINATE Defined for English Language Learners

discriminate

verb

Definition of discriminate for English Language Learners

: to unfairly treat a person or group of people differently from other people or groups
: to notice and understand that one thing is different from another thing : to recognize a difference between things

DISCRIMINATE Defined for Kids

discriminate

verb dis·crim·i·nate \ di-ˈskri-mə-ˌnāt \

Definition of discriminate for Students

discriminated; discriminating

1 : to unfairly treat a person or group differently from other people or groups

It is against the law to discriminate on the basis of race.

2 : to be able to tell the difference between things

He can discriminate among the birds by their calls.

Medical Dictionary

discriminate

verb dis·crim·i·nate \ dis-ˈkrim-ə-ˌnāt \

medical Definition of discriminate

discriminated; discriminating

transitive verb

: to respond selectively to (a stimulus)

intransitive verb

: to respond selectively

the capacity of organisms to discriminate
—J. A. Swets

Law Dictionary

discriminate

intransitive verb dis·crim·i·nate \ dis-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt \

legal Definition of discriminate

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

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