discriminating

to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit; show partiality: The new law discriminates against foreigners. He discriminates in favor of his relatives.

to note or observe a difference; distinguish accurately: to discriminate between things.

verb (used with object)

to make or constitute a distinction in or between; differentiate: a mark that discriminates the original from the copy.

to note or distinguish as different: He can discriminate minute variations in tone.

adjective

marked by discrimination; making or evidencing nice distinctions: discriminate people; discriminate judgments.

Origin:
1620–30; < Latin discrīminātus separated, past participle of discrīmināre. See discriminant, -ate¹

Related forms

dis·crim·i·nate·ly, adverb

half-dis·crim·i·nat·ed, adjective

pre·dis·crim·i·nate, verb (used with object), pre·dis·crim·i·nat·ed, pre·dis·crim·i·nat·ing.

un·dis·crim·i·nat·ed, adjective

Synonyms
3. See distinguish.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To discriminating

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World English Dictionary

discriminate

—vb (when intr, foll by between or among)
1.	(intr; usually foll by in favour of or against) to single out a particular person, group, etc, for special favour or, esp, disfavour, often because of a characteristic such as race, colour, sex, intelligence, etc
2.	to recognize or understand the difference (between); distinguish: to discriminate right and wrong; to discriminate between right and wrong
3.	(intr) to constitute or mark a difference
4.	(intr) to be discerning in matters of taste

—*adj*
5.	showing or marked by discrimination

[C17: from Latin discrīmināre to divide, from discrīmen a separation, from discernere to discern]

dis'criminately

—*adv*

dis'criminator

—n

discriminating (dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ)

—*adj*
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

dis'criminatingly

—*adv*

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

discriminate

1620s, from L. discriminare "to divide," from discrimen, derived n. from discernere (see discern). The adverse (usually racial) sense is first recorded 1866, Amer.Eng. Positive sense remains in discriminating. Related: Discriminated

discriminating

"possessing discernment," 1792, from discriminate.

Example sentences

Partners might feel you are not being discriminating enough in your choice of

companions.

If he has, his book will not be remembered next year by discriminating readers.

It is discriminating those who can ill afford the exorbitant membership fees.

Stately, solidly built brick center hall colonial awaits the discriminating

buyer.

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Matching Quote

"We can teach prevention. For little kids, the best protection is that they should not be alone in public places. All children should be conscious of strangers, and be discriminating and wary of them. This won't make them grow up suspicious as long as they have adults around whom they know and can trust: relatives, friends of their parents, parents of friends."

-unknown author