indiscrimination
C2Formal, Literary, Academic
Definition
Meaning
The quality or state of not making or being able to make careful distinctions; a lack of discrimination or discernment.
Can refer to a philosophical or moral stance of universal equality or non-judgment, where differences are deliberately ignored rather than merely overlooked. In certain contexts, it can imply a broad, undifferentiated approach to a group or category.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A highly formal, often abstract noun. It is the nominal form of the adjective 'indiscriminate'. While 'discrimination' has both positive (discernment) and negative (unfair bias) meanings, 'indiscrimination' is almost exclusively negative or neutral, describing a failure or refusal to differentiate. It is far less common than its opposite, 'discrimination'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is equally rare and formal in both variants.
Connotations
Equally carries connotations of thoughtlessness, carelessness, or a deliberate egalitarian philosophy, depending on context.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British academic or philosophical texts, but this is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[indiscrimination] in [action/choice] (e.g., indiscrimination in hiring)[indiscrimination] towards [group] (e.g., indiscrimination towards all applicants)[verb] with indiscrimination (e.g., act with indiscrimination)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific. The concept is embedded in phrases like 'with reckless indiscrimination'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could critique a hiring or investment strategy: 'The fund's indiscrimination led to poor portfolio performance.'
Academic
Used in philosophy, ethics, or literary criticism to discuss principles of equality or aesthetic judgment: 'The poet's indiscrimination between sublime and trivial imagery weakened the collection.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Rarely used in technical fields; more likely in social sciences discussing policy or bias.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council was criticised for indiscriminating in its allocation of funds, favouring no project over another.
American English
- The algorithm was accused of indiscriminating, treating all user data with equal weight regardless of context.
adverb
British English
- He donated indiscriminatorily to every charity that wrote to him.
American English
- The law was applied indiscriminatorily, causing administrative chaos.
adjective
British English
- His indiscriminatory approach to bibliography meant the list was long but useless.
American English
- The policy was deliberately indiscriminatory, applying the same rule to all departments.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The manager's indiscrimination in praising both excellent and poor work confused the team.
- The philosopher advocated for a certain moral indiscrimination, arguing that all sentient beings deserve equal consideration.
- The critic lambasted the exhibition for its aesthetic indiscrimination, where kitsch and masterpiece were given equal wall space.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the prefix 'IN-' meaning 'not', plus 'DISCRIMINATION'. So, it's the state of NOT discriminating or making distinctions.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IS DISTINGUISHING (thus, indiscrimination is moral or intellectual blindness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'недискриминация' (non-discrimination in a legal/positive sense). 'Indiscrimination' is negative/descriptive. A closer translation might be 'неразборчивость', 'отсутствие различения'.
- It is not the direct opposite of the negative sense of 'discrimination' (предвзятость). Its opposite is the positive sense of 'discrimination' (разборчивость, discernment).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'the act of not discriminating against someone' (that is 'non-discrimination').
- Confusing it with 'indiscriminate' (the adjective).
- Attempting to use it in everyday speech where 'carelessness' or 'lack of judgment' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'indiscrimination' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Non-discrimination' is a positive legal or ethical principle of not treating people unfairly based on group membership. 'Indiscrimination' is a negative or neutral description of a failure to make distinctions or judgments, often implying carelessness.
Rarely, and only in specific philosophical contexts. It might be praised as a form of radical equality or universal compassion, where deliberate non-judgment is the goal. In most practical contexts, it has a negative connotation.
Using it to mean 'fairness' or 'the absence of prejudice'. This is incorrect. It means 'lack of discernment'.
Only if you are very confident in its meaning and context (C2 level). Using it incorrectly will hurt your score. Safer, more common synonyms are 'lack of judgment', 'carelessness', or 'unselective approach'.