discriminate
Definitions
To treat a person or group unfairly, especially on the basis of race, sex, or age
歧视；区别对待（尤指基于种族、性别、年龄）
To recognize a difference between things; to distinguish
辨别；区分
Root Breakdown
Root-deriveddis- (apart) + crimin (from cernere, to sift/judge) + -ate (verb) = 'to sift apart, to tell apart.' The neutral original sense is simply 'to distinguish.' Because telling people apart and then treating them unequally is exactly how prejudice works, the same verb gained its modern negative sense: to discriminate against someone.
Root crim still carries 26 more wordsWhy It Means This
This is the word where the root's literal 'sifting' meaning survives most clearly. Originally to discriminate was a skill — telling fine differences apart, a mark of good judgment. The negative meaning is recent: when the 'things sifted apart' are people, and the sorting feeds unfair treatment, the neutral act of distinguishing becomes the social evil of discrimination.
Usage Guide
- 'discriminate against someone' = treat them unfairly (the prejudice sense — needs against).
- 'discriminate between A and B' / 'discriminate X from Y' = tell apart (the neutral sense).
The preposition tells you which meaning: against → unfair; between/from → distinguish.
Example Sentences
- 1.
It is illegal to discriminate against employees because of their age.
- 2.
A skilled taster can discriminate between very similar wines.
Easily Confused
discriminate vs distinguish — both mean 'tell apart,' but distinguish is purely neutral. discriminate carries the prejudice sense when used with 'against,' so in everyday English people prefer distinguish for the neutral idea to avoid the loaded overtone.