Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

discriminating

adjective dis·crim·i·nat·ing

Definition of discriminating

1 :making a distinction :distinguishing
  • a discriminating mark
2 :marked by discrimination:
a :discerning, judicious
  • discriminating buyers
b :discriminatory
  • accused of discriminating practices
—

discriminatingly

play \-ˌnā-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

See discriminating defined for English-language learners

See discriminating defined for kids

Explore Merriam-Webster

alt-59c448f88ea38
Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'
image1644821030
These Are Fighting Words
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-59c52d6ee2f72
Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Examples of discriminating in a Sentence

  1. accused of discriminating practices in the hiring of employees

  2. a discriminating feature of poison ivy is a compound leaf with three mitten-shaped leaflets

Recent Examples of discriminating from the Web

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

First Known Use of discriminating

1642

discriminating Synonyms

Synonyms
differential, discriminatory, discriminational, discriminative
Antonyms
nondiscriminatory
Related Words
biased, inequitable, partial, partisan, prejudiced, prejudicial, unequal, unfair, unjust; clubby, elitist, selective; segregative
Near Antonyms
equal, equitable, fair, just; impartial, neutral, objective, unbiased, uncolored, unprejudiced

DISCRIMINATING Defined for English Language Learners

discriminating

adjective

Definition of discriminating for English Language Learners

  • : liking only things that are of good quality : able to recognize the difference between things that are of good quality and those that are not

Learn More about discriminating

  1. See words that rhyme with discriminating Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for discriminating Nglish: Translation of discriminating for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of discriminating for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up discriminating? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

toothsome

play

agreeable, attractive, or delicious

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. dotage, dotard a state or period of senile decay

  2. otherwise "in other respects"

  3. federalism Graham says bill gives power to states

  4. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  5. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

discriminating

Test Your Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

  • young-plant-shoots
  • Which of the following is a new sense of the word bunny?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59c52d6ee2f72
Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

The word's origins are quite literal

alt-59c4207ecf106
Let's Talk 'Tea'

Spill it, sip it: just make it hot.

image1644821030
8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

alt-59c2960017c94
The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

When you push a meeting, where does it go?

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

young-plant-shoots
Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

You're going to have to memorize the dictionary again.

Take the quiz
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
Add Diction
Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game
Examples: discriminating in a Sentence