English Explanatory Dictionary

discrimination

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Discernment, the act of discriminating, discerning, distinguishing, noting or perceiving differences between things, with the intent to understand rightly and make correct decisions.
  2. Differential treatment of an individual or group to their disadvantage; treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality; prejudice; bigotry.
  3. The quality of being discriminating; acute discernment, especially in matters of good taste.
  4. That which discriminates; a distinguishing mark, a characteristic.

Pronunciation

/dɪskɹɪmɪˈneɪʃən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-discrimination.wav /dɪˌskɹɪm.əˈneɪʃən/ /dɪskɹɪm.əˈnæɪʃən/

Word forms

discrimination discriminations

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin discrīminātiō, discrīminātiōnem, the action noun to discrīminō, discrīmināre (“distinguish”). Equivalent to discriminate + -ion. In English use from the 17th century.

Synonyms

differentiation tastefulness

Related words

stereotype bias racism

Derived words

antidiscrimination counterdiscrimination enantiodiscrimination facial discrimination indiscrimination non-discrimination nondiscrimination positive discrimination price discrimination reverse discrimination self-discrimination self discrimination underdiscrimination
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