Understanding ‘Discriminate’: SAT Vocabulary Explained
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of ‘discriminate’ for the SAT. This video covers its function as a verb and adjective, etymology, synonyms, antonyms, and common usage errors. Improve your vocabulary and comprehension skills for the exam and beyond.
Imagine you’re at a restaurant, and you notice the staff treating customers differently based on their appearance.
This scenario illustrates today’s SAT vocabulary word: discriminate.
Word type: Discriminate can function as both a verb and an adjective.
Meaning: As a verb, discriminate means to recognize a distinction or to make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people.
As an adjective, it describes someone able to make fine distinctions or someone with refined taste.
Word history: Discriminate comes from the Latin word discriminatus, which means to distinguish between.
It entered the English language in the early seventeenth century.
Antonyms: Some antonyms for discriminate include equalize, lump together, and generalize.
Synonyms: Synonyms for discriminate include differentiate, distinguish, discern, and separate.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at some examples.
The human eye can discriminate between millions of colors. In its negative sense, It is illegal to discriminate against employees based on their age, race, or gender.
As an adjective, we might say She has a discriminate palate and can detect subtle flavors in wine. Common errors in use: A common error is confusing discriminate with the noun discrimination.
While discriminate is the action, discrimination is the result or practice. Another mistake is using discriminate against when talking about positive distinction.
You would say The test discriminates between good and bad candidates, not discriminates against. Understanding the word discriminate is crucial for the SAT, not only for vocabulary questions but also for reading comprehension passages that might discuss social issues.
Remember, while the verb can have both neutral and negative connotations, on the SAT and in general usage, it’s often associated with unfair treatment.
Being able to discriminate between these subtle differences in meaning will serve you well in your exam and beyond.
