Discrimination — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˌskri-mə-ˈnā-shən/ dis·crim·i·na·tion

Meaning & Definition of Discrimination

Discrimination (noun)

  1. the act, practice, or an instance of unfairly treating a person or group differently from other people or groups on a class or categorical basis (such as race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation), prejudiced or prejudicial outlook or practice
  2. the quality or power of finely distinguishing
  3. the act of making or perceiving a difference, the act of discriminating

Discrimination (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the state of being kept distinct

    "in her mind there did not exist a discrimination between the imaginary and the real"

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Discrimination

The most common words with a similar meaning to Discrimination:

Near Antonyms of Discrimination

Word Forms of Discrimination

Derived words: discriminational (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Discrimination

First known use: 1621

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Discrimination

Words & Phrases Containing Discrimination

Frequently Asked Questions about Discrimination

What does "Discrimination" mean?

"Discrimination" means the act, practice, or an instance of unfairly treating a person or group differently from other people or groups on a class or categorical basis (such as race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation), prejudiced or prejudicial outlook or practice. As a noun, it is defined as: the act, practice, or an instance of unfairly treating a person or group differently from other people or groups on a class or categorical basis (such as race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation), prejudiced or prejudicial outlook or practice.

What is another word for "Discrimination"?

Other words for "Discrimination" include demarcation, discreteness, distinction and separation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Discrimination" you intend.

How do you use "Discrimination" in a sentence?

Examples of "Discrimination" in a sentence: "in her mind there did not exist a discrimination between the imaginary and the real".

Is "Discrimination" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Discrimination" is a noun.

Is "Discrimination" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Discrimination" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Discrimination"?

"Discrimination" is pronounced /di-ˌskri-mə-ˈnā-shən/ and divided into syllables as dis·crim·i·na·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Discrimination"?

First known use: 1621.

What is another word for "Discrimination" meaning "the state of being kept distinct"?

When "Discrimination" (noun) means the state of being kept distinct, synonyms include demarcation, discreteness, distinction and separation.