# discriminatory

/dɪsˈkɹɪmənəˌtɔɹi/ (US) · /dɪskɹˈɪmɪnətəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/discriminatory
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. unfair or biased

adjective · CEFR B2

treating a person or group unfairly because of their race, gender, age, or other features.

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

- The company was criticized for its discriminatory hiring practices that favored younger candidates.
- Legal experts argued that the new zoning laws were inherently discriminatory, as they disproportionately affected low-income families in the urban center.

### 2. making distinctions

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

able to see or show the difference between things very clearly.

For teachers: relating to the ability to perceive or make fine distinctions between similar things.

- A discriminatory ear for music helps a person tell the difference between very similar notes.
- The study required a highly discriminatory method of analysis to separate the subtle chemical variations in the soil samples.

## Examples

- The new rule is discriminatory against older workers.
- She filed a complaint because the hiring process was discriminatory toward women.
- The policy was widely criticized as discriminatory, favoring urban residents while neglecting rural communities.

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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.