# discrimination

/dɪsˌkɹɪməˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /dɪskɹˌɪmɪnˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/discrimination
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unfair treatment

noun · CEFR B2

treating a person or group unfairly because of who they are, such as their race, gender, or religion.

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

- The company was accused of discrimination because they refused to hire older workers.
- The landmark legislation was designed to eliminate systemic discrimination in the housing market, ensuring equal access for all citizens regardless of their background.

### 2. noticing differences

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the ability to see or understand the difference between two or more things.

For teachers: the cognitive process of distinguishing between different stimuli or recognizing fine details.

- A young child's discrimination between different colors develops quickly.
- The experiment tested the subjects' auditory discrimination by asking them to identify subtle variations in pitch and tone.

### 3. good taste

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the ability to judge what is high quality or has good style.

For teachers: the quality of being discerning; acute judgment, especially in matters of aesthetics or social conduct.

- She showed great discrimination in choosing only the finest materials for her home.
- The collector was renowned for his discrimination, rarely purchasing a piece that did not meet his exacting standards for historical authenticity.

## Examples

- The company has strict rules against discrimination.
- The new law aims to prevent discrimination against older workers during the hiring process.
- While the legal framework focuses on systemic discrimination, the psychologist studied the fine discrimination of sensory inputs required for professional wine tasting.

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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.