discriminate
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Related to discriminate: discriminate against
discriminate against (someone or something)
To impose limitations on a particular person or group for prejudicial reasons. Those who continue to discriminate against people of color will continue to meet resistance from those who believe in equality.
See also: discriminate
discriminate between (someone or something)
To recognize the differences between people or things. I have a hard time discriminating between Jim and Greg, but they are identical twins after all. You can discriminate between hydrangea and phlox by looking at their leaves.
See also: between, discriminate
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
discriminate against someone or something
to single out a type of person or thing for special negative treatment or denial of equal treatment; to act in a prejudicial manner against someone or something. This law discriminates against short people. You discriminate against people in wheelchairs.
See also: discriminate
discriminate between
someone and someone else or something and something else to distinguish between people or between things. I find it hard these days to discriminate between my friends and my enemies. Can you discriminate between this shade of pink and that one?
See also: between, discriminate
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.