“Discrimination” is a noun with several meanings, often related to the unfair or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
When it means treating people or things differently in an unfair or prejudicial way
1. Prejudice
- Meaning: An unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge, that leads to a dislike or distrust of a particular group of people. For example, “Racial prejudice still exists in many parts of the world, causing discrimination against certain ethnic groups.”
- Usage difference: “Prejudice” emphasizes the attitude or the preconceived notion in one's mind that can result in discriminatory behavior. In comparison to “discrimination,” it focuses more on the mental state or the bias that exists before any action is taken. Discrimination is the actual act of treating someone unfairly based on those prejudices. For example, having a prejudice against people with disabilities might lead to discrimination when it comes to hiring them for jobs.
2. Bias
- Meaning: A tendency to prefer one person or thing over another, often in an unfair way. It can be conscious or unconscious. For example, “The judge's bias towards the prosecution affected the fairness of the trial.”
- Usage difference: “Bias” is a more general term that refers to a slant or preference. It can be present in various aspects of life like in decision-making, opinions, or evaluations. In contrast to “discrimination,” bias might not always result in an overt act of unfair treatment. Discrimination is the manifestation of that bias in actions that negatively impact others. For example, a hiring manager might have a bias towards candidates from certain universities, but discrimination would occur if they consistently reject qualified candidates just because of where they studied.
3. Bigotry
- Meaning: Intolerance towards those who hold different opinions or belong to different groups, especially in matters of religion, race, or politics. For example, “His bigotry made him treat people of other faiths with disrespect and discrimination.”
- Usage difference: “Bigotry” is a stronger and more extreme form of prejudice. It implies a rigid and often hateful attitude towards others. In comparison to “discrimination,” bigotry is more about the deep-seated, narrow-minded belief system that fuels discriminatory acts. Discrimination is the practical consequence of that bigoted mindset, such as excluding people from social events or opportunities based on their group identity.
When it means the ability to distinguish between different things
1. Differentiation
- Meaning: The process of distinguishing or recognizing the difference between two or more things. For example, “The differentiation between the two species of birds was quite clear based on their plumage and beak shapes.”
- Usage difference: “Differentiation” is a more neutral term that focuses on the act of discerning differences. In contrast to “discrimination” in this context, it doesn't carry the negative connotation of unfair treatment. It's simply about identifying variations. For example, a biologist uses differentiation to tell apart different organisms in a scientific study, while discrimination in the negative sense would be if someone were treated differently in an unjust way based on those differences.
2. Distinction
- Meaning: A difference or contrast between similar things or people that makes one different from the others. For example, “The distinction between a genuine diamond and a cubic zirconia can be detected by their hardness and refractive index.”
- Usage difference: “Distinction” emphasizes the specific characteristic that sets something or someone apart. In contrast to “discrimination” when used to mean distinguishing, it is more about the unique feature or the boundary that separates. For example, we make a distinction between different styles of art based on their techniques and aesthetics, and this is a matter of objective recognition rather than any unfair treatment as in the negative sense of discrimination.
3. Discernment
- Meaning: The ability to judge well and make careful distinctions between things. For example, “Her discernment in choosing the right fabric for the dress was impressive.”
- Usage difference: “Discernment” focuses on the skill or the capacity to perceive differences and make good decisions based on that perception. In contrast to “discrimination” in the meaning of distinguishing, it is more about the wisdom and acumen involved. For example, a connoisseur uses discernment to tell the quality of different wines, and it's a positive and refined ability rather than having the negative implications that can be associated with discrimination in other contexts.