discriminate Definition

discriminate
verb, intr discriminated, discriminating

1. To recognize a difference between two people or things.

Thesaurus: differentiate, distinguish, discern.
2. To give different treatment to different people or groups in identical circumstances, especially without justification and on political or religious grounds.

Thesaurus: be prejudiced, be biased, disfavour, segregate, separate, victimize.
Form: discriminate in favour of someone (usually)
Form: discriminate against someone

Derivative: discriminating
adj

Showing good judgement; able to recognize even slight differences.
Thesaurus: discerning, astute, particular, cultivated, selective, critical; particular, fastidious, finicky, fussy.

Derivative: discriminatingly
adverb

Derivative: discriminator
noun

Derivative: discriminatory
adj

Displaying or representing unfairly different treatment.
Thesaurus: prejudiced, prejudicial, inequitable, partisan, unjust, biased, partial, one-sided, weighted, preferential, favouring; Antonym: fair, impartial.

Etymology: 17c: from Latin discriminare, discriminatum to separate.