discriminate
Americanverb (used without object)
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to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit; show partiality.
The new law discriminates against foreigners. He discriminates in favor of his relatives.
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to note or observe a difference; distinguish accurately.
to discriminate between things.
verb (used with object)
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to make or constitute a distinction in or between; differentiate.
a mark that discriminates the original from the copy.
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to note or distinguish as different.
He can discriminate minute variations in tone.
adjective
verb
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(intr; usually foll by in favour of or against) to single out a particular person, group, etc, for special favour or, esp, disfavour, often because of a characteristic such as race, colour, sex, intelligence, etc
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to recognize or understand the difference (between); distinguish
to discriminate right and wrong
to discriminate between right and wrong
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(intr) to constitute or mark a difference
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(intr) to be discerning in matters of taste
adjective
Synonym Usage
See distinguish.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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prediscriminateverb (used with object)
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half-discriminatedadjective
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discriminatornoun
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discriminatelyadverb
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undiscriminatedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have discriminatedperfect
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has discriminatedperfect 3rd person singular
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am discriminatingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been discriminatingperfect progressive
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discriminatessingular 3rd person
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are discriminatingprogressive
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discriminatingparticiple
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is discriminatingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been discriminatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had discriminatedperfect
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discriminatedparticiple
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had been discriminatingperfect progressive
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discriminatedsimple
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was discriminatingprogressive singular
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were discriminatingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of discriminate
First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin discrīminātus “separated,” past participle of discrīmināre “to separate”; see discriminant
Explanation
When you discriminate between two things, you can tell the difference between them and can tell them apart. The ability to discriminate between similar objects is important. For example, if you want to be a good root farmer, it helps if you can discriminate between a turnip and a parsnip. However, some people take it too far and discriminate against other people, treating them differently based on their physical characteristics or abilities. To be able to discriminate between a turnip and a radish is good, but to discriminate against people is not.
Vocabulary lists containing discriminate
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Dear Martin
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020) Tribute List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“They didn’t discriminate on who they hated,” Mark Remer, the FBI special agent in charge, told reporters last week.
From Slate • May 26, 2026
Under the country's Sex Discrimination Act, it is illegal for providers of goods or services to discriminate against another person on the ground of a person's gender identity.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
“American corporations are on notice: you will face our aggressive enforcement if you use race or national origin to discriminate against qualified Americans,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
In Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion, he justified the high court’s decision, writing that “the Constitution almost never permits the Federal Government or a State to discriminate on the basis of race.”
From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026
The M’Naghten Rule, as has been previously stated, recognizes no form of insanity provided the defendant has the capacity to discriminate between right and wrong—legally, not morally.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
