discriminate
/dɪˈskɹɪm.əˌneɪt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.51 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
verb
To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
Transitive verb
adj
Having its differences marked; distinguished by certain tokens.
Example Sentences
- "Since he was color blind he was unable to discriminate between the blue and green bottles."
- "Low self-esteem can affect both rich and poor people: it doesn't discriminate."
- "The law prohibits discriminating against people based on their skin color."
- "“The more a young person is discriminated against, the more likely they will experience emotional difficulties including depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues and even suicidal ideation,” said Duffy, who specializes in work with teens, parents, couples and families, and wrote the book “Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety.”"
- "The Office for Civil Rights said that it sent letters under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans any institution receiving federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, and national origin."
- "The ordinance condones immorality and discriminates against my children's rights to grow up in a healthy, decent community."
Etymology
First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin discrīminātus, perfect passive participle of discrīminō (“to divide, separate, distinguish”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from discrīmen (“a space between, division, separation, distinction”), from discernō (“to divide, separate, distinguish, discern”). By surface analysis, dis- + criminate.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪˈskɹɪm.əˌneɪt/
- British English: /dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/
Usage
Inflected Forms
discriminates (present, singular)
discriminating (participle, present)
discriminated (participle, past)
discriminated (past)
more discriminate (comparative)
most discriminate (superlative)