discriminate

/dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/

//dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"discriminate" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“discriminate” has 18 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #14,742. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#14,742
frequency rank, English
26,416
“D” headwords
18
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make distinctions.

Key facts for discriminate
PropertyValue
Headworddiscriminate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/
Letters12
Frequency rank#14,742
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “discriminate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). discriminate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 18 spelling variants around discriminate (IPA /dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #14,742 among 26,416 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for discriminate, with forms such as "ddiscriminate", "dicsriminate", and "disccriminate". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin discrīminātus, perfect passive participle of discrīminō (“to divide, separate, distinguish”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from discrīmen (“a space between, division, separa… The correct English form is discriminate, spelled D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make distinctions.
  2. 2
    To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
  3. 3
    To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
  4. 4
    To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
  5. 5
    To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.

Etymology

First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin discrīminātus, perfect passive participle of discrīminō (“to divide, separate, distinguish”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from discrīmen (“a space between, division, separation, distinction”), from discernō (“to divide, separate, distinguish, discern”).

Synonyms

distinguishdifferentiatetell apartdisfavor

Antonyms

favor

This word in other languages

discriminar(Español)discriminer(Français)differenzieren(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddiscriminate,dicsriminate,disccriminate,discirminate,discriimnate,discrimiante,discriminaet,discriminatte,discriminnate,discrimintae,discrimminate,discrimniate,discrmiinate,discrriminate,disrciminate,disscriminate,dsicriminate,idscriminate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of discriminate - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ddiscriminate1dicsriminate2disccriminate1discirminate2discriimnate2discrimiante2discriminaet2discriminatte1
Edit distance from "discriminate"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "discriminate"?
"discriminate" is spelled D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/.
What does "discriminate" mean?
As a verb, "discriminate" means: To make distinctions.
What are common misspellings of "discriminate"?
Common misspellings include "ddiscriminate", "dicsriminate", "disccriminate", "discirminate", "discriimnate". The correct spelling is "discriminate".
How do you pronounce "discriminate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "discriminate" is /dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "discriminate"?
First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin discrīminātus, perfect passive participle of discrīminō (“to divide, separate, distinguish”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from discrīmen (“a space between, divisi... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “discriminate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈskɹɪm.ɪ.neɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list