discriminate
verb
H. G. Armstrong
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Although many methods or motives for discriminating are unfair and undesirable (or even illegal), the verb itself has a neutral history. English speakers borrowed it from the past participle of the Latin verb discriminare (meaning "to distinguish or differentiate"), which, itself, is derived from the verb discernere, meaning "to distinguish between." Discernere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix dis- (meaning "apart") and cernere ("to sift"). Other descendants of discernere include discern and discernible (as you no doubt guessed), discreet, and indiscretion. In addition, the root cernere gives us concern, certain, decree, and even secret.
Synonyms
Examples of discriminate in a Sentence
Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
This move takes the opposite tack, by effectively forcing schools to discriminate against trans students.
—Nico Lang, Them, 31 Jan. 2025
In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that discriminating against a transgender person is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which could raise legal questions about Trump's order regarding only two sexes.
—Carrie Shepherd, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
In theory, the Roberts Court still honors the principle that the government may not discriminate among faiths.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for discriminate 
Dictionary Entries Near discriminate
Cite this Entry
“Discriminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discriminate. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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discriminate
verb
Medical Definition
discriminate
verb
J. A. SwetsLegal Definition
discriminate
intransitive verb
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