Basic Details
Word: Discriminate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To recognise a difference between things or to treat someone unfairly based on their characteristics.
Synonyms: Distinguish, differentiate, discern
Antonyms: Ignore, confuse, associate
Idioms and Phrases
- Discriminate between: To make a clear distinction between two or more things. Example: "It is important to discriminate between facts and opinions when reading the news."
- Don't discriminate: A call to treat all people equally and without bias. Example: "In our classroom, we always remind each other to not discriminate and include everyone."
Usage Examples
Example 1: It is unfair to discriminate against someone just because of their nationality.
Example 2: The ability to discriminate between right and wrong is important for making good decisions.
Example 3: We should learn to discriminate between good and bad behaviour in others.
Fun Fact
The word "discriminate" comes from the Latin word "discriminare," which means "to divide" or "to separate." It has been used in English since the 17th century to refer both to simply recognizing differences and to unfair treatment.
Famous Quote
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "discriminate" mean?
a) To ignore differences
b) To treat everyone the same
c) To recognise differences
d) To embrace similarities
Answer: c) To recognise differences
2. Which of these is a synonym of "discriminate"?
a) Forget
b) Distinguish
c) Merge
d) Confuse
Answer: b) Distinguish
3. Which of these is an antonym for "discriminate"?
a) Differentiate
b) Associate
c) Discern
d) Distinguish
Answer: b) Associate
4. Which sentence uses "discriminate" correctly?
a) I can discriminate the taste of chocolate from vanilla easily.
b) The child did not discriminate between the good and bad fruit.
c) It is not polite to discriminate among friends.
d) He tried to discriminate by hiding the book.
Answer: a) I can discriminate the taste of chocolate from vanilla easily.
5. Which idiom means to make a clear distinction?
a) Don't discriminate
b) Don't put all your eggs in one basket
c) Discriminate between
d) Get your ducks in a row
Answer: c) Discriminate between
