discriminación
nounCEFR B2
What does “discriminación” mean in English?
discrimination — the unjust treatment of a person or group based on a characteristic
discrimination — the unjust treatment of a person or group based on a characteristic (la discriminación racial/de género, discriminación positiva = affirmative action)
Example sentences
La discriminación por razón de origen étnico en el acceso a la vivienda sigue siendo una realidad denunciada por organizaciones de derechos.
Discrimination on grounds of ethnic origin in access to housing remains a reality denounced by rights organisations.
La discriminación positiva es un mecanismo para corregir desigualdades históricas, no para generar nuevas injusticias.
Affirmative action (positive discrimination) is a mechanism to correct historical inequalities, not to generate new injustices.
Sufrir discriminación en el lugar de trabajo afecta no solo a la productividad, sino a la salud mental de quienes la padecen.
Experiencing discrimination in the workplace affects not only productivity but the mental health of those who suffer it.
How to use it
La discriminación means 'discrimination' — the unjust treatment of a person or group on the basis of a characteristic such as race, gender, age, or religion. At B2 it is a cornerstone of social-issues discourse. Key collocations: la discriminación racial/de género/laboral, sufrir/denunciar/combatir la discriminación, discriminación positiva (affirmative action — nota: false friend risk), las víctimas de la discriminación. The verb discriminar and the adjective discriminatorio/a are equally productive. Distinguish from segregación (segregation — physical or systemic separation) and exclusión (exclusion — being shut out of participation).
Common mistake
False friend trap: discriminación positiva = affirmative action (quotas/positive measures to address historical disadvantage) — NOT 'positive discrimination' in the British English critical sense. Discriminación (active unjust treatment based on group membership) vs prejuicio (prejudice — the attitude) vs segregación (physical/systemic separation). Discriminar can also mean 'to distinguish/differentiate' in a neutral analytical sense (discriminar entre dos opciones) — context is crucial.