discrimination

[ dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of discriminating, or of making a distinction.
2. treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit:

   racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.

3. the power of making fine distinctions; discriminating judgment:

   She chose the colors with great discrimination.

   Synonyms: perception, acumen, taste, discernment

4. Archaic. something that serves to differentiate.

discrimination

/ dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. unfair treatment of a person, racial group, minority, etc; action based on prejudice
2. subtle appreciation in matters of taste
3. the ability to see fine distinctions and differences
4. electronics the selection of a signal having a particular frequency, amplitude, phase, etc, effected by the elimination of other signals by means of a discriminator

Derived Forms

• disˌcrimiˈnational, adjective

Other Words From

• dis·crimi·nation·al adjective
• anti·dis·crimi·nation adjective
• nondis·crimi·nation noun
• predis·crimi·nation noun
• self-dis·crimi·nation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discrimination¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin discrīminātiōn-, stem of discrīminātiō “division, separation,” literally “a dividing,” equivalent to discrīmināt(us) “separated” (past participle of discrīmināre “to divide up, separate”; discriminate ) + -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

No one should be at risk of discrimination simply because of who they are, whom they love, or the state in which they reside.

From Washington Blade

Former co-CEO Eileen Murray sued Bridgewater in July over her deferred compensation, and alleged gender discrimination in an ongoing battle over her departure package.

From Fortune

They battled harassment, discrimination, and a wall of socio-political opposition.

From Fortune

On August 31, Airbnb launched Project Lighthouse, an initiative meant to “uncover, measure, and overcome discrimination” on the home-sharing platform.

From MIT Technology Review

Observers told the Blade they think the audience is not LGBTQ voters, but suburban mothers who are fearful of discrimination against their children and friends.

From Washington Blade

In Scandinavian countries this discrimination has been dramatically reduced.

From The Daily Beast

But most of this gap, say the researchers who carried out the study, is due to discrimination.

From The Daily Beast

After the Iranian Revolution, discrimination took on a sectarian flavor.

From The Daily Beast

In 2013, with help from corporations, the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act finally passed in the Senate.

From The Daily Beast

And as bad as it might be for gay or lesbian people, the discrimination is markedly worse for transgender people.

From The Daily Beast

If we had shot 'em without discrimination, the cowards would have got bold, seein' that they weren't safer in rear than in front.

From Project Gutenberg

Let the student continue this comparison till he attains very nearly the brevity and discrimination displayed by Mr. Killick.

From Project Gutenberg

In selecting him for this important post Napoleon showed that power of discrimination which contributed so greatly to his success.

From Project Gutenberg

Dividends must be distributed among the stockholders without unjust discrimination.

From Project Gutenberg

The Unemployed Workmen Act carries this contrary policy of discrimination according to merit into the class of the able-bodied.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bigotry
• favoritism
• hatred
• inequity
• injustice
• intolerance
• prejudice
• unfairness