dis·crim·i·nate 
/dɪˈskrɪməˌneɪt/ verb
dis·crim·i·nates; dis·crim·i·nat·ed; dis·crim·i·nat·ing /dɪˈskrɪməˌneɪt/ verb 1 [no obj] : to unfairly treat a person or group of people differently from other people or groups
▪ The school is not allowed to discriminate. ▪ It is illegal to discriminate on the grounds/basis of race/sex. [=it is illegal to treat someone differently because of his or her race/sex] — often + against ▪ The firm discriminated against him because of his race. 2 somewhat formal : to notice and understand that one thing is different from another thing : to recognize a difference between things [+ obj] ▪ He is old enough to discriminate [=distinguish, tell] right from wrong. ▪ I can discriminate [=differentiate] the individual voices in the choir. [no obj] — often + among or between ▪ He could discriminate among the birds by their calls. ▪ She can discriminate between ripe and unripe fruit by smell alone.
▪ The school is not allowed to discriminate. ▪ It is illegal to discriminate on the grounds/basis of race/sex. [=it is illegal to treat someone differently because of his or her race/sex] — often + against ▪ The firm discriminated against him because of his race.
