discriminate

verb

1. (intransitive)To make distinctions.

   “Since he was color blind he was unable to discriminate between the blue and green bottles.”

2. To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.

   “Low self-esteem can affect both rich and poor people: it doesn't discriminate.”

3. (intransitive)To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.

   “The law prohibits discriminating against people based on their skin color.”

   ““The more a young person is discriminated against, the more likely they will experience emotional difficulties including depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues and even suicidal ideation,” said Duffy, who specializes in work with teens, parents, couples and families, and wrote the book “Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety.””

   “The Office for Civil Rights said that it sent letters under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans any institution receiving federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, and national origin.”

4. (intransitive, uncommon)To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.

   “The ordinance condones immorality and discriminates against my children's rights to grow up in a healthy, decent community.”

   “There's also expected to be a ruling out of Washington over Texas' efforts to impose a restrictive new voter law that many minority groups allege discriminates against their right to vote.”

   “Under the RHA, a person can sue the State of Illinois or local governments like cities and counties if they improperly deny, interfere with, or discriminate against the person’s fundamental rights to make their own reproductive health decisions.”

5. (transitive)To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.

   “To discriminate the goats from the sheep.”

   “Still stranger much, that when at length mankind Had reach'd the sinewy firmness of their youth, And could discriminate and argue well On subjects more mysterious”

adj

1. Having its differences marked; distinguished by certain tokens.

   “Nevertheless it is certain, that oisters, and cockles, and mussels, which move not, have no discriminate sex”