n.
Pronunciation: dis- ˌ kri-m ə - ' n ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Date: 1648
1 a : the act of discriminating b : the process by which two stimuli differing in some aspect are responded to differently
2 : the quality or power of finely distinguishing
3 a : the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually b : prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment <racial discrimination >
synonyms see DISCERNMENT
– dis · crim · i · na · tion · al \ -shn ə l, -sh ə -n ə l \ adjective