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Webster 1913 Edition
Discriminate
Dis-crim′i-nate
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Discriminated
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discriminating
.] To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
Cowper.
To
discriminate
the goats from the sheep. Barrow.
Dis-crim′i-nate
,Verb.
I.
1.
To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately;
as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to
. discriminate
between probability and slight presumption2.
(a)
To treat unequally.
(b)
(Railroads)
To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.
Webster 1828 Edition
Discriminate
DISCRIMINATE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To distinguish; to observe the difference between; as, we may usually discriminate true from false modesty.2.
To separate; to select from others; to make a distinction between; as, in the last judgment, the righteous will be discriminated from the wicked.3.
To mark with notes of difference; to distinguish by some note or mark. We discriminate animals by names, as nature has discriminated them by different shapes and habits.DISCRIMINATE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To make a difference or distinction; as, in the application of law, and the punishment of crimes, the judge should discriminate between degrees of guilt.2.
To observe or note a difference; to distinguish; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.DISCRIMINATE
,Adj.
Definition 2024
discriminate
discriminate
English
Verb
discriminate (third-person singular simple present discriminates, present participle discriminating, simple past and past participle discriminated)
- (intransitive) To make distinctions.
- Since he was colorblind he was unable to discriminate between the blue and green bottles.
- (intransitive, construed with against) To make decisions based on prejudice.
- The law prohibits discriminating against people based on their skin color.
- (transitive) To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Cowper to this entry?)
- Barrow
- To discriminate the goats from the sheep.
Usage notes
Due to the strong pejorative connotations of sense of “decide based on prejudice”, care should be taken in using the term in the sense “distinguish, make distinctions”, and this sense is primarily used in formal discourse; synonyms are generally used instead.
Synonyms
- (make distinctions): distinguish, differentiate
- (make decisions based on prejudice): disfavor
Antonyms
- (make decisions based on prejudice): favor
Derived terms
Terms derived from discriminate
Related terms
Terms etymologically related to discriminate
Translations
to distinguish
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to make decisions based on prejudice
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Adjective
discriminate (comparative more discriminate, superlative most discriminate)
- Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
External links
- discriminate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- discriminate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
Italian
Verb
discriminate
- second-person plural present indicative of discriminare
- second-person plural imperative of discriminare
- feminine plural of discriminato