discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
di-ˈskri-mə-nə-ˌtȯr-ē 
-ˈskrim-nə-
2
: applying or favoring discrimination in treatment
Examples of discriminatory in a Sentence
The law prohibits discriminatory hiring practices.
a company that was fined for its discriminatory practices in the hiring of women
Recent Examples on the Web
Condos also encounter discriminatory treatment in the federal tax code.
—
M. Nolan Gray, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Without the ability to review potentially discriminatory new voting laws from going into effect, the Justice Department or private parties such as legal advocacy groups must now rely on trying to litigate them after they've been passed.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The full 4th Circuit in 2024 had struck down West Virginia’s law as discriminatory, but the Supreme Court last year directed it to reconsider this case and a separate one involving North Carolina, in light of its decision in the Tennessee case.
—Reuters 21 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Not for racial, ethnic, and gender minority Americans who are excluded from NIH research via discriminatory grant screening processes.
—Jenna Norton, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminatory
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M. Nolan Gray, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Without the ability to review potentially discriminatory new voting laws from going into effect, the Justice Department or private parties such as legal advocacy groups must now rely on trying to litigate them after they've been passed.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The full 4th Circuit in 2024 had struck down West Virginia’s law as discriminatory, but the Supreme Court last year directed it to reconsider this case and a separate one involving North Carolina, in light of its decision in the Tennessee case.
—Reuters 21 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Not for racial, ethnic, and gender minority Americans who are excluded from NIH research via discriminatory grant screening processes.
—Jenna Norton, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminatory
Cite this Entry
“Discriminatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discriminatory. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
dis-ˈkrim-(ə-)nə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
: showing discrimination : being unfair
discriminatory treatment
Legal Definition
discriminatory
adjective
dis·crim·i·na·to·ry
dis-ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌtōr-ē
1
: applying discrimination in treatment
2
: having unlawful discrimination as an effect
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