discriminate
Meaning: To recognise or draw a distinction between things, or to treat a person or group unfairly on the basis of prejudice regarding race, sex, age, or other characteristics.
Discriminate has two quite different registers. In formal and academic writing, 'discriminate between' means to distinguish with fine judgement — a positive intellectual skill. However, in legal, political, and everyday usage, 'discriminate against' is overwhelmingly negative, denoting unlawful or immoral prejudice. Context and preposition are critical: the same verb can describe refined taste or systemic injustice.
Examples
- The palate of an experienced sommelier can discriminate between dozens of grape varieties. 经验丰富的侍酒师能够辨别数十种葡萄品种之间的差异。El paladar de un sumiller experimentado puede discriminar entre decenas de variedades de uva.経験豊富なソムリエの味覚は何十種類ものブドウ品種を見分けることができる。숙련된 소믈리에의 미각은 수십 가지 포도 품종을 구별해 낼 수 있다.
- The tribunal found that the employer had discriminated against the applicant on grounds of disability. 法庭认定,雇主基于残疾原因对申请人实施了歧视。El tribunal determinó que el empleador había discriminado al solicitante por motivos de discapacidad.審判所は、雇用主が障害を理由に申請者を差別したと認定した。재판소는 고용주가 장애를 이유로 지원자를 차별했다고 판정했다.
- The algorithm was shown to discriminate against applicants from certain postcodes, raising serious ethical concerns. 该算法被证实会歧视来自某些邮政编码区域的申请者,引发了严重的伦理问题。Se demostró que el algoritmo discriminaba a los solicitantes de ciertos códigos postales, lo que suscitó serias preocupaciones éticas.そのアルゴリズムは特定の郵便番号の申請者を差別していることが判明し、深刻な倫理的懸念が生じた。해당 알고리즘이 특정 우편번호 지역 지원자를 차별하는 것으로 드러나 심각한 윤리적 우려가 제기되었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, journalism, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin discriminatus, past participle of discriminare (to divide, separate), from discrimen (distinction, difference), from discernere (to discern). Entered English in the early 17th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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