discriminates

Discriminates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb discriminate. In everyday language, it can mean to distinguish between things or options, such as when someone discriminates between flavors or features. In social and legal contexts, the term is often used to describe unfair or prejudicial treatment of people based on characteristics such as race, sex, religion, age, disability, or nationality.

Etymology and sense: discriminate comes from Latin discriminare, meaning to distinguish or separate, formed from dis- “apart” and crīmen “judgment” or “distinction.” The neutral sense of distinguishing differences is distinct from the negative sense of treating people differently on the basis of identity.

Legal and policy dimensions: In many jurisdictions, discrimination refers to practices that hinder or exclude people because of protected status. Types include direct discrimination (an explicit policy or action that harms a protected group) and indirect discrimination (a neutral rule or practice that disproportionately disadvantages that group). Institutional or systemic discrimination describes patterns embedded in organizations or societies that maintain unequal outcomes over time.

Context and nuance: Not all discrimination is illegal or unethical. Distinguishing between options, assessing evidence, or applying reasonable criteria can be legitimate when not based on protected characteristics or biased assumptions. Problems arise when distinguishing functions as pretext for unfair or prejudiced exclusion.

See also: discrimination, equal treatment, anti-discrimination law, fairness.

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