Discrimination: meaning, definitions and examples

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discrimination

 

[ dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

social justice

The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

Synonyms

bias, inequality, prejudice

Examples of usage

  • She faced discrimination in the workplace due to her gender.
  • Racial discrimination is a violation of human rights.
Context #2 | Noun

legal

The act of making a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which they belong rather than individual merit.

Synonyms

differentiation, favoritism, partiality

Examples of usage

  • Discrimination on the basis of religion is prohibited by law.
  • Employment discrimination is illegal in many countries.
Context #3 | Noun

psychology

The ability to perceive and respond to differences among stimuli or individuals.

Synonyms

discernment, distinction, recognition

Examples of usage

  • Discrimination in sensory perception helps us distinguish different tastes.
  • Visual discrimination is crucial for reading.

Translations

Translations of the word "discrimination" in other languages:

🇵🇹 discriminação

🇮🇳 भेदभाव

🇩🇪 Diskriminierung

🇮🇩 diskriminasi

🇺🇦 дискримінація

🇵🇱 dyskryminacja

🇯🇵 差別 (sabetsu)

🇫🇷 discrimination

🇪🇸 discriminación

🇹🇷 ayrımcılık

🇰🇷 차별 (chabyeol)

🇸🇦 تمييز (tamayuz)

🇨🇿 diskriminace

🇸🇰 diskriminácia

🇨🇳 歧视 (qíshì)

🇸🇮 diskriminacija

🇮🇸 mismunun

🇰🇿 дискриминация

🇬🇪 დისკრიმინაცია

🇦🇿 ayrı-seçkilik

🇲🇽 discriminación

Etymology

The word 'discrimination' originated from Latin 'discriminatio' meaning 'distinction' or 'differentiation'. Over time, it has evolved to encompass both positive and negative connotations, with a focus on the unjust treatment of individuals based on certain characteristics. The history of discrimination is deeply rooted in social, legal, and psychological contexts, highlighting the ongoing struggles for equality and fairness in various aspects of society.

See also: discriminately, discriminating, discriminative, discriminator, discriminatorily, discriminatory, indiscriminateness.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,763, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.