willful discrimination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willful discrimination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or social contexts to describe intentional acts of discrimination against individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, or disability. Example: "The court found that the company engaged in willful discrimination against its employees based on their age."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To do otherwise is to violate Title IX by partaking in the willful discrimination against members of the Carolina community.

Huffington Post

Last week the Boy Scouts of America submitted a proposal to its membership to allow gay scouts but continue its willful discrimination against gay and lesbian scout leaders.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Juries, for instance, are sometimes told to consider only whether discrimination was deliberate and willful (which may leave less room to consider unconscious biases), or whether an H.R. decision constituted discrimination or not (which leaves less room for considering situations in which discrimination was one factor, if not the only one).

The New Yorker

Is Wills's blindness willful?

The New York Times

The argument here is not so much that there's invidious segregation and discrimination, but that the policies and practices and the willful ignorance of the disparities that characterize our public schools still have this racially disparate effect.

The New York Times

Then a man by the name of James Pietrangelo filed a $12 million lawsuit against The Wing alleging its "illegal discrimination against men … was/is egregious: brazen, flagrant, intentional, willful, wanton, actually malicious, motivated by evil and ill-will, deliberately oppressive, outrageous, and willfully and callus disregardful of the rights of men".

TechCrunch

You cannot fight a willful lack of common sense, a blatant disregard for decency, and a state government willing to codify discrimination under the guise of religious freedom.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp, this sanctified discrimination can finally be seen for what it is — less an error of mind, perhaps, than a willful error of soul.

The New Yorker

Willful distortion?

The New York Times

No more willful blindness.

The New York Times - Magazine

Willful she is.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal matters, use "willful discrimination" to emphasize the intentional nature of the discriminatory act, making it distinct from unintentional or systemic biases.

Common error

Avoid using "willful discrimination" without clear evidence of intentionality; relying solely on disparate outcomes can lead to mischaracterization and weaken your argument. Instead, investigate policies, statements, and patterns of behavior to substantiate a claim of willful intent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willful discrimination" functions as a noun phrase where "willful" modifies "discrimination". It describes a specific type of discrimination that is intentional and deliberate. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "willful discrimination" signifies intentional and deliberate acts of prejudice. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it is commonly used in legal and social contexts to describe intentional discriminatory actions. While relatively rare in occurrence, it carries significant weight due to its focus on intentionality. The primary context for this phrase is News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure there is clear evidence of intentionality to avoid mischaracterization. Related phrases include "intentional bias", "deliberate prejudice", and "conscious discrimination".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intentional bias

Replaces "discrimination" with the more general term "bias" while keeping the intention aspect.

deliberate prejudice

Uses "prejudice" instead of "discrimination" focusing on preconceived judgments.

conscious discrimination

Emphasizes awareness of the discriminatory act.

purposeful discrimination

Highlights the goal-oriented nature of the discriminatory action.

calculated discrimination

Suggests a planned or strategized act of discrimination.

premeditated discrimination

Implies the discrimination was thought out in advance.

targeted discrimination

Focuses on the specific group or individual being discriminated against.

express discrimination

Highlights how the discrimination is openly displayed.

blatant discrimination

Emphasizes the overt and obvious nature of the discrimination.

knowing discrimination

Indicates the discriminator understands their actions and their consequences.

FAQs

What's the difference between "willful discrimination" and "unconscious bias"?

"Willful discrimination" refers to intentional acts of prejudice, whereas "unconscious bias" involves unintentional prejudices that affect understanding, actions, and decisions.

How does "willful discrimination" differ from "systemic discrimination"?

"Willful discrimination" involves deliberate acts of bias by individuals or organizations. "Systemic discrimination", on the other hand, is embedded within societal structures and policies, creating inequalities without necessarily requiring intentional malice.

What are some alternatives to "willful discrimination"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "intentional bias", "deliberate prejudice", or "conscious discrimination".

What kind of evidence is needed to prove "willful discrimination"?

Proving "willful discrimination" requires demonstrating that the discriminatory action was intentional, not accidental or due to oversight. Evidence can include discriminatory statements, documented patterns of biased behavior, and explicit discriminatory policies.