discrimination

Pronunciation: /dɪˌskɹɪm.əˈneɪʃən/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice
  2. noun the cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin discrīminātiō, discrīminātiōnem, the action noun to discrīminō, discrīmināre (“distinguish”). Equivalent to discriminate + -ion. In English use from the 17th century.

In classic literature

Synonyms

favoritism, favouritism

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
social control
Narrower (hyponyms)
sexism, nepotism, racism, ableism, fattism, cronyism

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