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
Yolo County officials have identified and modified more than 1,100 historic property records containing discriminatory covenants, some dating back more than a century.
—
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 2026
According to court filings, the hospital at the time had a policy of telling patients who made discriminatory requests they could not be honored.
—William Morris, Des Moines Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Christopher Anderson, the Department of Justice lawyer representing the EPA, argued that while the agency does discount future effects in weighing regulations, that practice is not discriminatory and any link to resulting climate harms is speculative.
—Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Williams is relatively clueless beyond opposition to unjustified, racially discriminatory use of lethal force on display in the deaths of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and a disturbing chronicle of other homicides.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminatory
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 2026
According to court filings, the hospital at the time had a policy of telling patients who made discriminatory requests they could not be honored.
—William Morris, Des Moines Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Christopher Anderson, the Department of Justice lawyer representing the EPA, argued that while the agency does discount future effects in weighing regulations, that practice is not discriminatory and any link to resulting climate harms is speculative.
—Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Williams is relatively clueless beyond opposition to unjustified, racially discriminatory use of lethal force on display in the deaths of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and a disturbing chronicle of other homicides.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 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 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
