# discriminate

/dɪsˈkɹɪməˌneɪt/ (US) · /dɪskɹˈɪmɪnˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/discriminate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 3. to have good taste

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to be able to judge what is high quality or good.

For teachers: to exercise nice or refined perception; to be discerning in matters of taste or quality.

- A discriminating buyer can easily see the quality of this handmade leather.
- The gallery caters to a clientele that can discriminate between mass-produced prints and genuine fine art photography.

Usage: Often appears as the present participle 'discriminating' used as an adjective.

## Examples

- The company was accused of discriminating against older workers.
- She felt the hiring manager was discriminating against her because of her accent.
- The new legislation aims to eliminate systemic discrimination in housing by enforcing stricter penalties for landlords who reject applicants based on protected characteristics.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.