discipline
Americannoun
-
disciplines
plural
-
training to act in accordance with rules; drill.
military discipline.
-
an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.
Sticking to specific and regular mealtimes is excellent discipline for many dieters.
-
a branch of instruction or learning.
the disciplines of history and economics.
-
punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
- Synonyms:
- castigation, chastisement
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the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc..
the harsh discipline of poverty.
-
behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control.
good discipline in an army.
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a set or system of rules and regulations.
-
Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
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an instrument of punishment, especially a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.
verb (used with object)
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disciplines,
present (3rd person singular)
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disciplined,
past participle, past
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disciplining
present participle
noun
-
training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self-control, etc
-
systematic training in obedience to regulations and authority
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the state of improved behaviour, etc, resulting from such training or conditions
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punishment or chastisement
-
a system of rules for behaviour, methods of practice, etc
-
a branch of learning or instruction
-
the laws governing members of a Church
-
a scourge of knotted cords
verb
-
to improve or attempt to improve the behaviour, orderliness, etc, of by training, conditions, or rules
-
to punish or correct
Synonym Usage
See punish.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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disciplinernoun
-
multidisciplinenoun
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predisciplinenoun
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subdisciplinenoun
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overdisciplineverb
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redisciplineverb (used with object)
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disciplinableadjective
-
disciplinaladjective
-
nondiscipliningadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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disciplinesimple
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disciplinessimple
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have disciplinedperfect
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has disciplinedperfect
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am discipliningprogressive
-
are discipliningprogressive
-
is discipliningprogressive
-
have been discipliningperfect progressive
-
has been discipliningperfect progressive
Past
-
disciplinedsimple
-
had disciplinedperfect
-
was discipliningprogressive
-
were discipliningprogressive
-
had been discipliningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of discipline
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin disciplīna “instruction, tuition,” equivalent to discipul(us) “pupil, learner, trainee” + -ina noun suffix; see origin at disciple; see -ine 2
Explanation
When you have discipline, you have self-control. When you discipline children, you are either teaching them to be well-behaved, or you are punishing and correcting them. The origins of this word offer great clues about its current meanings. The Old French descepline referred to punishment and suffering. The Latin disciplina meant "teaching, learning." The Old English version referred to a branch of knowledge or field of study (so if you're really good at word origins, you might want to make etymology your discipline). Developing discipline as a form of training is a military concept that's more than 500 years old.
Vocabulary lists containing discipline
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Twelve months ago, we set out to earn back trust and restore Barrick to its history of discipline and excellence.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
With military discipline, she comes every day to protest outside the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the government agency set up to deal with POW affairs.
From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026
“We just have to have discipline and do what our coaches taught us and that’s what leads us to the promised land.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2026
"We gave them too many opportunities with our discipline," Townsend said, echoing the verdict of his captain.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026
The Aristotle of the universities was thus not the real Aristotle but one adapted to provide an educational programme within a world where the most important discipline was taken to be theology.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Both disciplines became part of the university in 1816, when they were included in the Faculty of Philosophy.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026
World Triathlon does have other disciplines in its remit, such as Aquathlon and duathlon.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
To determine what caused the brothers' unusual symptoms, researchers from multiple disciplines conducted thorough medical examinations and analyzed their DNA.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
In quantitative finance, where many of the highest-paying internships are concentrated, experience arguably matters less than in most other disciplines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The divisiveness among scientific disciplines, especially between the basic sciences and the applied science of medicine, was then fostered deliberately by medical schools.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
“We would be patient and disciplined about buying equities on pullbacks,” Gary Schlossberg, global strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said in emailed comments.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 10, 2026
England were very accurate, very disciplined, creative and genuinely did not give Australia a sniff.
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026
Junior sales staff who didn’t tell their boss that they were in a relationship with a customer could expect to be disciplined or fired at most big companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
“He taught us how to save our money and he taught us how to be very disciplined and how to look out for each other.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
I felt that, wherever black people committed themselves, in the Little Rocks and the Birminghams and other places, militantly disciplined Muslims should also be there—for all the world to see, and respect, and discuss.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
"I think parents feel very nervous about disciplining children now because they're worried about how it's going to make them feel," she argues.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The State Bar would be tasked with disciplining lawyers that flout the rule.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
The IMF, the one body charged with disciplining imbalances, has no means to do so.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Rate hikes aimed at disciplining speculation can do more than cool the room.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026
“I am disciplining these boys at present, Miss Riley,” Mr. Turner said, shooting Quentin a warning look.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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