discriminating

[dih-skrim-uh-ney-ting]

adjective

1. able to distinguish differences or distinctions; differentiating; analytic.

2. noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning; perspicacious.

   a discriminating interpreter of events.

3. having excellent taste or judgment.

   a discriminating interior designer.

4. differential, as a tariff.

5. possessing distinctive features; capable of being differentiated; discriminative.

discriminating

/ dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. able to see fine distinctions and differences

2. discerning in matters of taste

3. (of a tariff, import duty, etc) levied at differential rates in order to favour or discourage imports or exports

Other Word Forms

• discriminatingly adverb
• half-discriminating adjective
• half-discriminatingly adverb
• nondiscriminating adjective
• nondiscriminatingly adverb
• overdiscriminating adjective
• overdiscriminatingly adverb
• quasi-discriminating adjective
• quasi-discriminatingly adverb
• undiscriminating adjective
• undiscriminatingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of discriminating¹

First recorded in 1640–50; discriminat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135 said in a statement that Stater Bros. broke “the law by surveilling, interrogating and discriminating against union members.”

From Los Angeles Times

The administration alleges that state officials are violating federal civil rights law by discriminating against women, a legal action that threatens billions of dollars in federal education funds.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Supremacy Clause prohibits the City of Los Angeles and its officials from singling out the Federal Government for adverse treatment — as the challenged law and policies do — thereby discriminating against the Federal Government.”

From Salon

This California law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of an employee’s hairstyle or hair texture.

From Los Angeles Times

Several Vietnamese American-owned nail salons in Orange County have sued California, alleging the state’s labor code is discriminating against their businesses.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• astute 
• choosy 
• discerning 
• eclectic 
• fastidious 
• finicky 
• fussy 
• refined 
• selective