The most common discrimination definition today is treating a person or group worse than others because of a characteristic such as race, religion, sex, caste, age or disability, rather than because of anything they have done. Refusing a qualified candidate a job because of her religion is a clear case.
The word has an older, neutral sense as well: a talent for spotting fine differences and choosing wisely, as in a wine taster's discrimination. Most confusion about the word comes from mixing up these two meanings.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
1. Unfair treatment based on group identity. 2. The ability to tell things apartPart of speech
Noun; verb discriminatePronunciation
dih-skrim-uh-NAY-shuhnWord forms
discriminate, discriminatory, discriminating, discriminantOrigin
Latin discriminare, "to divide, separate", from discrimen, "distinction"Opposite
equality, fair treatment, inclusion; for the second sense, indiscriminationRegister
Neutral; common in law, workplaces and social debate
Discrimination meaning: two senses of one word
- Unfair treatment. Treating someone differently, and worse, because of a protected or group trait. This is the sense in laws, policies and public debate. It is closely linked to prejudice, which is the attitude, while discrimination is the action.
- Telling things apart. Noticing fine differences, as in colour discrimination or a musician's discrimination between two notes. A "discriminating" buyer has refined taste. This sense is positive or neutral.
To define discrimination in one plain line for the first sense: it is acting on bias, so that people lose chances or respect because of who they are.
Common types
| Type | What it means | Short example |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | Treating someone worse openly because of a trait | A landlord refuses tenants of one religion |
| Indirect | A rule that applies to everyone but hurts one group more, without good reason | A height rule for a desk job that excludes most women |
| Harassment | Unwanted conduct linked to a trait that makes someone feel degraded | Repeated jokes about a colleague's accent |
| Victimisation | Punishing someone for complaining about discrimination | Moving a worker to night shifts after she files a complaint |
| Systemic or institutional | Patterns built into systems that disadvantage a group over time | Lending practices that leave some areas with little credit |
Specific forms have their own names, such as racism, sexism, ageism and casteism. Our pages on racism and bias explain two of them.
The legal discrimination definition, in broad terms
Many countries outlaw unfair treatment at work, in renting or buying homes, in schools and in services offered to the public. Two well-known examples:
- India: Article 15 of the Constitution bars the state from treating citizens unequally on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and Article 16 sets equality of opportunity in public employment.
- United States: a federal law passed in 1964, known as the Civil Rights Act, outlawed job discrimination by employers on the basis of sex, race, religion, color or national origin. Later laws added protections for age and disability.
Which traits are protected, and which settings are covered, differ from country to country, so the legal definition of discrimination always depends on the specific law.
Where people disagree
Almost everyone agrees that unfair treatment is wrong, but people differ on where the lines are. Debates include whether policies that favour a disadvantaged group, such as reservations in India or affirmative action in the US, correct past discrimination or create a new kind. People also argue about whether a gap in outcomes alone proves discrimination, or whether intent must be shown. Our pages on equity and diversity cover related terms and the views around them.
Example sentences
- The company was fined for pay discrimination after a review found women earned less for the same work.
- She reported age discrimination when she was told she was "too senior" for training.
- Dogs have poor colour discrimination compared with humans.
- The new rule bans discrimination against tenants who have pets of a certain size.
- He shows real discrimination in choosing which books to recommend.
Frequently asked questions
What is the definition of discrimination in simple words?
It is unfair treatment of a person for being part of a certain group, such as a religion, gender or skin colour. The person loses out not because of their actions but because of who they are.
Is discrimination always negative?
In its social and legal sense, yes, it describes unfair treatment. In its older sense it simply means telling things apart with skill, so it can be positive.
How does prejudice differ from discrimination?
Prejudice lives in the mind: a judgement or feeling formed without good reason. Discrimination is behaviour that treats someone unfairly. A person can hold prejudice without acting on it, but discrimination is the act itself.
What are examples of discrimination at work?
Refusing to hire, promote or pay someone fairly because of a protected trait, harassing them over it, or punishing them for complaining. Rules that seem neutral but exclude a group without a real need can count too.
How do you pronounce discrimination?
Say dih-skrim-uh-NAY-shuhn; NAY carries the beat. The verb discriminate is dih-SKRIM-uh-nayt.