ayrim

Ayrim is a Turkish noun that generally denotes a distinction or difference between things, or the act of distinguishing them. It can refer to neutral, technical, or classificatory distinctions, as in distinguishing one category from another. In social and ethical contexts, ayırım also describes the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or other attributes; when used in this sense, the related term ayrımcılık means discrimination.

The standard Turkish spelling is ayrım; a non-diacritic rendering of the same word can appear as ayırm or ayrim in texts that omit diacritical marks. The term derives from the verb ayır- “to separate,” and is related to other forms such as ayrımcılık (discrimination) and ayrıştırma (segregation or differentiation).

Usage notes: In neutral writing, ayırım is used to express distinctions in classification, analysis, or comparison, for example in science, linguistics, or statistics. In social discourse, ayırım often appears in discussions of equality and rights, where it is typically understood in a negative sense when linked to discrimination. The concept is commonly addressed within legal and ethical frameworks aimed at preventing unfair ayırım.

See also: ayrımcılık, fark, sınıflandırma, ayrıştırma.