discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
di-ˈskri-mə-nə-ˌtȯr-ē 
-ˈskrim-nə-
2
: applying or favoring discrimination in treatment
Examples of discriminatory in a Sentence
The law prohibits discriminatory hiring practices.
a company that was fined for its discriminatory practices in the hiring of women
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images The Supreme Court on Tuesday night allowed Alabama to use in November’s elections a new map for congressional districts that a lower federal court ruled was discriminatory to Black voters.
—
Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 June 2026
But the Supreme Court said the panel wrongly interpreted Alabama’s disagreement with the lower court’s initial ruling against the map as proof of discriminatory intent.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Karnataka’s wage protest Garment workers in Karnataka are protesting the southern Indian state’s new minimum wage revision, calling it discriminatory and harmful to the sector’s mostly female workforce.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 June 2026
Pride started in June 1969 from the Stonewall Riots when patrons of a gay bar in Greenwich Village fought back against a violent, discriminatory police raid.
—Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminatory
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Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 June 2026
But the Supreme Court said the panel wrongly interpreted Alabama’s disagreement with the lower court’s initial ruling against the map as proof of discriminatory intent.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Karnataka’s wage protest Garment workers in Karnataka are protesting the southern Indian state’s new minimum wage revision, calling it discriminatory and harmful to the sector’s mostly female workforce.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 June 2026
Pride started in June 1969 from the Stonewall Riots when patrons of a gay bar in Greenwich Village fought back against a violent, discriminatory police raid.
—Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminatory
Cite this Entry
“Discriminatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discriminatory. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
dis-ˈkrim-(ə-)nə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
: showing discrimination : being unfair
discriminatory treatment
Legal Definition
discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
dis-ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌtōr-ē
1
: applying discrimination in treatment
2
: having unlawful discrimination as an effect
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