Treating one or more members of a specified group unfairly as compared with other people. A central problem is how to define discrimination, both in its most basic direct sense and in the most prominent variations.What does the noun discrimination mean? The practice of treating someone or a particular group in society less fairly than others. Discrimination means treating a person 'less favourably' than someone else, because of protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010. Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act requires public schools to offer services and accommodations for eligible students with disabilities. This list contains the most common abbreviations used in the OED. Click on a letter to see the abbreviations beginning with that letter. This list contains the most common abbreviations used in the OED. Click on a letter to see the abbreviations beginning with that letter.