to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or group based on characteristics such as race, age, or gender
example
It is important for workplaces to implement policies that do not discriminate against employees based on their gender identity.
synonyms
distinguishdifferentiateseparate
word origin — from Latin 'discriminare', meaning 'to separate, distinguish' (from 'discriminis', meaning 'distinction')
SAT Vocabulary Level 1 — Set 88
Set 88 of SAT Vocabulary Level 1 covers 5 words: discriminate, ascertain, foster, delegate, elicit. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
discriminate · verb/dɪsˈkrɪməˌneɪt/
to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or group based on characteristics such as race, age, or gender
It is important for workplaces to implement policies that do not discriminate against employees based on their gender identity.
Synonyms: distinguish, differentiate, separate
Origin: from Latin 'discriminare', meaning 'to separate, distinguish' (from 'discriminis', meaning 'distinction')
ascertain · verb/ˌæsərˈteɪn/
to find out or determine with certainty
The detective worked tirelessly to ascertain the truth behind the mysterious events.
Synonyms: determine, discover, establish
Origin: from Old French 'asserter', based on Latin 'assertus', the past participle of 'asserere' meaning 'to affirm, to assert'.
foster · verb/ˈfɔːstər/
to encourage or promote the development of something
The organization aims to foster creativity among young artists through workshops and mentorship programs.
Synonyms: nurture, promote, cultivate
Origin: From Old English 'fostrian', meaning to nourish or rear.
delegate · verb/ˈdɛlɪɡeɪt/
to assign responsibility or authority to another person or group
To ensure the project runs smoothly, the manager decided to delegate tasks to her team members based on their strengths.
Synonyms: assign, entrust, delegate
Origin: from Latin 'delegare', from 'de-' meaning 'down' and 'legare' meaning 'to send'
elicit · verb/ɪˈlɪs.ɪt/
to draw out or bring forth a response or information
The teacher's questions were designed to elicit thoughtful responses from the students during the discussion.
Synonyms: evoke, extract, elicit
Origin: from Latin 'elicere' which means 'to draw out or bring forth'