Basic Details
Word: Discrimination
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Treating a person or group unfairly because of who they are, such as their caste, religion or gender; also the ability to judge fine differences.
Synonyms: prejudice, bias, unfairness, inequality
Antonyms: fairness, equality
Word origin: From Latin discriminare, to divide or distinguish.
How to Spell Discrimination
Syllables: dis - crim - i - na - tion
Tricky part: The first three vowels are all i: d-i-scr-i-m-i-nation. Students write descrimination or discremination, and some double the m.
Watch out for: descrimination, discremination, discriminasion
Memory tip: Before the ending ation, every vowel is an i: dis, crim, i. Say the three i beats out loud, then add nation.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The Constitution of India forbids discrimination on the grounds of caste, religion or sex.
Example 2: Tea tasters need fine discrimination to tell one leaf from another.
Example 3: The players spoke out against discrimination in sport.
Fun Fact
Discrimination is a cousin of discern: both go back to Latin discernere, to separate or tell apart.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word discrimination as used in the sentence:
The company was fined for discrimination against women who applied to be bus drivers.
a) equality
b) respect
c) protection
d) prejudice
Show answer
d) prejudice. Prejudice is unfair judgement of people, which is why the company was fined.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
discrimmination
a) m
b) n
c) c
d) r
Show answer
a) m. The crim part has a single m, as in crime.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The judge said the club's rule was a clear case of rmiatnosidiicn.
a) dissemination
b) incrimination
c) determination
d) discrimination
Show answer
d) discrimination. The jumble has fourteen letters, including a c and an r; dissemination has neither, and incrimination is too short.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Refusing someone a job because of their religion is an example of ____.
a) celebration
b) cooperation
c) discrimination
d) conversation
Show answer
c) discrimination
2. A music critic with fine discrimination can ____.
a) write a new song every evening
b) hear small differences in playing
c) sing well without any training
d) play many instruments at once
Show answer
b) hear small differences in playing
