discerning
dih-SER-ning
/dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ/
Having or showing good judgment and keen perception, especially regarding quality.
Implies the ability to notice subtle differences in quality, art, or character.
The story behind the word. Formed from Latin 'dis-' (apart) + 'cernere' (to sift or separate). A discerning person mentally sifts good qualities from bad like grain from chaff.
Word relationships
- fastidious: Discerning implies sharp taste and good judgment, whereas fastidious can imply being hard to please.
- indiscriminate: Indiscriminate means failing to show careful choice or judgment.
Commonly confused with
- discriminating: Discriminating can mean discerning, but can also carry negative racial/social bias.
Word family
- discernment (noun): The ability to judge well.
Collocations
- discerning eye
- discerning customer
- discerning taste
Example sentences
- "The gallery owner catered exclusively to discerning collectors who valued rare masterworks." Criticism
Memory hook
DISCERNing minds CONCERN themselves with sorting fine quality from trash. Sifting fine quality from ordinary.
When not to use
Do not use to describe judgmental prejudice or biased opinions.
Fun facts
- Shares a root with 'concern' and 'certain' via the Latin verb cernere.
Related words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.