Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Latin
Origin: discriminare 'to divide', from discernere; DISCERN


1 [intransitive] to treat a person or group differently from another in an unfair way
discriminate against
Under federal law, it is illegal to discriminate against minorities and women.
discriminate on the grounds/basis of something
It was found that the company still discriminated on the basis of race in promotions.
2 [intransitive and transitive] to recognize a difference between things [= differentiate]
discriminate between
Newborn babies can discriminate between a man's and a woman's voice.
discriminate something from something
the process of learning to discriminate fact from opinion

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