discriminate
[verb]
Synonyms:
- show prejudice, favour, show bias, single out, treat as inferior, treat differently, victimize
- differentiate, distinguish, draw a distinction, segregate, separate, tell the difference

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Antonyms: confound
Related Words: note, perceive, remark, collate, compare, contrast

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

di‧scrim‧i‧nate AC /dɪˈskrɪməneɪt, dɪˈskrɪmɪneɪt/ verb
[Word Family: verb: discriminate; noun: discrimination; adjective: discriminatory]
[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 Synonym : 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

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

discriminate
verb
ADV. positively | unfairly
PREP. against The present law discriminates unfairly against women.
in favour of discriminating positively in favour of people from ethnic minorities
on (the) grounds of Workers must avoid discriminating on the grounds of race or sex.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

discriminate
verb
BAD: Society discriminates old people by denying them the chance to work.
GOOD: Society discriminates against old people by denying them the chance to work.
BAD: Women have been discriminated for far too long.
GOOD: Women have been discriminated against for far too long.

Usage Note:
discriminate against a group of people: 'The court has ruled that UK employment laws discriminate against part-time workers.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲