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Definition of discretion
- common sense
- discreetness
- gumption [ chiefly dialect ]
- horse sense
- levelheadedness
- nous [ chiefly British ]
- sensibleness
Examples of discretion in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discretion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English discrecioun "rational perception, moral discernment, good judgment," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French discreciun, descrecion, borrowed from Late Latin discrētiōn-, discrētiō "separation, act or power of distinguishing, caution, prudence," going back to Latin, "division, discrimination," from discrē-, variant stem of discernere "to separate, distinguish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at discern
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing discretion
- at (someone's) discretion
- at the discretion of (someone)
- discretion is the better part of valor
- leave to the discretion of
- parental discretion
- the soul of discretion
Articles Related to discretion
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A Drudge of Lexicographers Presents: Collective Nouns
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Dictionary Entries Near discretion
discretional
Cite this Entry
“Discretion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discretion. Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
Kids definition of discretion, legal definition, legal definition of discretion, more from merriam-webster on discretion.
Nglish: Translation of discretion for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of discretion for Arabic Speakers
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- H. L. A. Hart
- December 2013
- See full issue
In this field questions arise which are certainly difficult; but as I listened last time to members of the group, I felt that the main difficulty perhaps lay in determining precisely what questions we are trying to answer. I have the conviction that if we could only say clearly what the questions are, the answers to them might not appear so elusive. So I have begun with a simple list of questions about discretion which in one form or another were, as it seemed to me, expressed by the group last time. I may indeed have omitted something and inserted something useless: if so, no doubt I shall be informed of this later.
The central questions then seem to me to be the following:
- What is discretion, or what is the exercise of discretion?
- Under what conditions and why do we in fact accept or tolerate discretion in a legal Ӭsystem?
- Must we accept discretion or tolerate discretion, and if so, why?
- What values does the use of discretion menace, and what values does it maintain or Ӭpromote?
- What can be done to maximize the beneficial operation of the use of discretion and to Ӭminimize any harm that it does?
From this list I am certainly conscious of omitting some specific questions [from] last time.
For example, I have not included the psychological question raised by Professor Freund: what are the psychological conditions of a sound use of discretion? I have omitted this because I believe that if we clearly understand what it is to exercise a discretion and what in different fields counts as the satisfactory exercise of a discretion, we shall not really have to face an independent psychological question of the form: what are the psychological conditions of its sound exercise or how are we psychologically able to exercise a discretion? Indeed, I think this question, which looks on the surface to be one of empirical psychology, perhaps really expresses in a rather misleading form just our initial unclarity about what discretion is and what in various fields we count as a sound exercise of discretion. But only further exploration of our subject will show whether I am right in this, and I may very well not be right.
- Legal Theory
December 20, 2013
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The vagaries of vagueness: rethinking the cfaa as a problem of private nondelegation.
- Cambridge Dictionary +Plus
Meaning of discretion in English
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discretion noun [U] ( CAREFUL BEHAVIOUR )
- attentiveness
- be good, and if you can't be good, be careful idiom
- be on ( your ) guard idiom
- hang on/upon something phrasal verb
- have a care idiom
- head in the game idiom
- safety first idiom
- see past something phrasal verb
- sit up and take notice idiom
discretion noun [U] ( RIGHT TO CHOOSE )
- be make or break for someone/something idiom
- be on the horns of a dilemma idiom
- fish or cut bait idiom
- get it together idiom
- get something into your head idiom
- split decision
- swing the balance idiom
- take it into your head to do something idiom
- take the plunge idiom
discretion | American Dictionary
Discretion | business english, examples of discretion, collocations with discretion.
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a liquid used for washing hair, or for washing particular objects or materials
Cooking or hitting the books? (Idioms with ‘book’)
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discretion noun
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What does the noun discretion mean?
There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun discretion , five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
discretion has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
How common is the noun discretion ?
How is the noun discretion pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun discretion come from.
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the noun discretion is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for discretion is from before 1325, in Statutes of the Realm .
discretion is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French . Partly a borrowing from Latin .
Etymons: French discretion ; Latin discrētiōn- , discrētiō .
Nearby entries
- discrepancy, n. 1579–
- discrepant, adj. & n. ?c1450–
- discrepantly, adv. 1603–
- discrepate, v. 1590–
- discrepation, n. ?a1425–1839
- discrete, adj. & n. a1398–
- discrete, v. 1624–
- discrete device, n. 1947–
- discretely, adv. c1475–
- discreteness, n. 1835–
- discretion, n. a1325–
- discretionable, adj. 1750–
- discretional, adj. 1653–
- discretionally, adv. 1655–
- discretionarily, adv. 1681–
- discretionary, adj. & adv. 1643–
- discretionary award, n. 1855–
- discretionary grant, n. 1831–
- discretionary income, n. 1947–
- discretionary spending, n. 1945–
- discretionary trust, n. 1805–
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Meaning & use
Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for discretion, n..
discretion, n. was revised in December 2013.
discretion, n. was last modified in September 2024.
oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into discretion, n. in September 2024.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1896)
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OED Second Edition (1989)
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Citation details
Factsheet for discretion, n., browse entry.
COMMENTS
The meaning of DISCRETION is individual choice or judgment. How to use discretion in a sentence.
This article is an essay on the meaning of discretion, the conflicting atti-tudes people have toward it, and the reasons why their feelings about it will probably always remain ambivalent. Although this article primarily focuses on the law, the broader context is a political one, because discre-
In the essay, Hart argued that discretion is a special mode of reasoned, constrained decisionmaking that occupies a middle ground between arbitrary choice and determinate rule application. Hart believed that discretion, soundly exercised, provides a principled way of coping with legal indeterminacy that is fully consistent with the rule of law.
the right or ability to decide something: at the discretion of Students can be expelled at the discretion of the principal (= if the principal decides it). I leave the decision to your discretion (= for you to decide). SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Idiom. discretion is the better part of valour.
Discretion is the quality of behaving in a quiet and controlled way without drawing attention to yourself or giving away personal or private information.
These essays discuss the importance of discretion, its limits, and ethical considerations that accompany its use. They also examine the role of discretion in maintaining justice, ensuring the protection of individual rights, and building trusting relationships with clients.
Sometimes they praise it and sometimes they execrate it. This article is an essay on the meaning of discretion, the conflicting attitudes people have toward it, and the reasons why their feelings about it will probably always remain ambivalent.
There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun discretion, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
Discretion refers to an employee's range of choices or freedom to act (Hambrick & Finkelstein 1987; March & Simon 1958). It represents a lack of constraint on the latitude employees have to make decisions or to control their work.
Discretion is the judgment or decision implemented through values, facts, and principles. In the CJS, it is the authority given to a decision maker to decide between alternatives or no alternatives. Discretion can be used by police in the area of the criminal investigation process.