discriminatory

[ dih-skrim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. characterized by or showing prejudicial treatment, especially as an indication of bias related to age, race, skin color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, etc.:

   Discriminatory practices in housing historically led to racially segregated neighborhoods.

   They passed a discriminatory tax mainly impacting immigrants to the country.

2. discriminative ( defs 1, 2 ).

discriminatory

/ -trɪ; dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɪv; dɪˈskrɪmɪnətərɪ /

adjective

1. based on or showing prejudice; biased
2. capable of making fine distinctions
3. (of a statistical test) unbiased

Derived Forms

• disˈcriminatorily, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·crimi·na·tori·ly adverb
• nondis·crimi·na·tory adjective
• undis·crimi·na·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discriminatory¹

First recorded in 1820–30; discriminate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

And the Illinois governor called special attention to miscarriages of justice in the death penalty system, including its racially discriminatory history and the fact that Illinois had, at that time, released 17 men who had been falsely convicted from death row.

From Slate

If Donald Trump thinks he’s going to fire all the “woke” commanders in the military and replace them with Republican loyalists who hew to the discriminatory party line of Trumpism, he’s going to end up with a hollow military.

From Salon

He could have done without the Fernandez controversy during pre-season, when the midfielder posted a video on social media showing him and his Argentina team-mates in a racist and discriminatory chant questioning the heritage of France's black and mixed-race players.

From BBC

Dishonesty was the most common reason for being kicked out of the police force, followed by sexual offences or misconduct and discriminatory behaviour.

From BBC

The parents sought to send their children to Orthodox Jewish schools and argued that the state’s policy of barring funding for religious institutions was discriminatory.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• biased
• inequitable
• prejudiced
• unfair