discrimination English · revision 6086

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1646|origins=la discernere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˌskrɪm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|discrīminātiō|t=a contrasting, separation, distribution]] (accusative discriminationem),^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a noun of action from [[m|la|discrīmināre|t=to divide, separate, distinguish]] (see [[discriminate]]),^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|discrīmen|t=separation, distinction]], the noun to [[m|la|discernere|t=to distinguish]] (see [[discern]]).^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The making of distinctions, the act of marking a difference: 1648 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the 1640s in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) a distinction or difference itself is from 1646,^(OED 1989) and MWU's first known use is 1621.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The faculty of observing differences accurately, discernment, is from 1814,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and fine discrimination in matters of taste followed.^(Collins 2023) The sense of making distinctions prejudicial to a class of people, usually on grounds of race or colour, is from 1866, in the American English of the Reconstruction;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the verb [[discriminate]] has the same sense from the same year.^(Barnhart 1988) In psychology, telling apart one stimulus from another in learning is from 1890.^(OED 1989) A rare 17th-century use meant the same as [[recrimination]].^(OED 1989) In electronics, discrimination is the selection of a signal by a particular property, such as frequency.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1646 – a distinction, difference.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1648 – the act of distinguishing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1814 – discernment.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1866 – prejudicial treatment of a group.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – in psychology.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Unfair treatment of a person or group on grounds such as [[race]], sex or age; [[prejudice]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The ability to see fine distinctions and differences; [[discernment]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Refined judgment in matters of taste.^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of distinguishing one thing from another.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[discriminational]]

+ * [[antidiscrimination]]

+ * [[indiscrimination]]

+ * [[nondiscrimination]]

+ * [[self-discrimination]]

+ * [[price discrimination]]

+ * [[reverse discrimination]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[discriminate]]

+ * [[discern]]

+ * [[crime]]

+ * [[criminal]]

+ * [[certain]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}