What does discriminatory mean?
Discriminatory is an adjective describing actions, policies, or attitudes that treat people unfairly because they belong to a particular group — typically defined by race, sex, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. It is most often used in formal contexts such as law, journalism, and public debate: a landlord may adopt discriminatory screening criteria, or a court may find an employment rule discriminatory against women. The word derives from the Latin discriminare, meaning to distinguish or divide, and it retains a negative connotation that distinguishes it from the related but complimentary term "discriminating", which praises refined judgment. Because accusations of discrimination carry legal and moral weight, calling something discriminatory is a serious claim, usually grounded in evidence of unequal treatment rather than mere difference. The word is essential vocabulary for discussing fairness, civil rights, and social justice in modern English.
adjectiveUnfairly treating a person or group differently from others, especially on grounds such as race, sex, age, or disability. More broadly, making unjust distinctions between categories of people.
- Making or showing an unfair distinction in favour of or against a person or group, especially on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics.
- (Of a rule, policy, law, or practice) having the effect of treating one group less favourably than another.
"The court struck down the discriminatory hiring policy that barred women from management roles."
"Regulators found the bank's lending practices to be discriminatory against applicants from minority neighbourhoods."
"Critics argued that the new voting requirements were discriminatory in effect, even if neutral on their face."
The same Latin verb gave us "discriminating" — a compliment about refined taste — and "discriminatory" — a serious legal accusation. Context is everything.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discriminatory
Discriminatory comes from the Latin discriminare, "to divide or distinguish", formed from discrimen, a dividing point or distinction, which itself derives from discernere, "to separate or perceive differences". English adopted discriminate in the early 17th century in this neutral sense of perceiving distinctions; the sense of unjust differentiation developed later, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries alongside civil rights discourse. Cognates include discern and its derivatives, all tracing back to the same Latin root of separating one thing from another.
Related word forms
How discriminatory is actually used
Formal register, common in legal, political, and journalistic contexts. It carries strong negative connotation and often appears in discussions of civil rights and equality law. Note the contrast with the positive sense of "discriminating", which shares the same root but means discerning.
Easily confused with discriminatory
"Discriminating" describes someone with good taste and sound judgment, while "discriminatory" describes something that unfairly treats people differently.
"Distinctive" means characteristic and easily recognized, whereas "discriminatory" refers to unfair differential treatment of people.