discernment

American  

[dih-surn-muhnt, -zurn-] / dɪˈsɜrn mənt, -ˈzɜrn- /

noun

1. the faculty of discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding.

   Synonyms:

   insight, penetration, perspicacity, judgment

2. the act or an instance of discerning.

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discernment British  

/ dɪˈsɜːnmənt /

noun

1. keen perception or judgment

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Usage

What does discernment mean? Discernment is the ability to recognize small details, accurately tell the difference between similar things, and make intelligent judgements by using such observations. It’s a noun form of the verb discern, which means to recognize, distinguish, or make judgments in this way, as in These two scents may smell identical to the average person, but an experienced perfumer can discern the difference between them. Things that can be identified or distinguished in such a way can be described as discernible. The adjective discerning can be used to describe someone who shows discernment or to describe such an ability, as in Most chefs have a very discerning palate. A close synonym is discriminating. The noun discrimination can be used to mean the same thing as discernment (though it’s more commonly used to refer to the practice of prejudicial treatment, which is not one of the senses of discernment). Example: Only through careful discernment can you tell a genuine artifact from the work of a counterfeiter.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-discernment
  noun
• nondiscernment
  noun
• prediscernment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of discernment

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French discernement, equivalent to discern(er) “to separate” ( see discern) + -ment -ment

Explanation

Discernment is the ability to make a smart judgment about something. If you're voting for Student Council President, you need to use discernment to pick the best candidate. The noun discernment describes a wise way of judging between things, or a particularly perceptive way of seeing things. If you can understand something that's somewhat hidden or obscure — if you figure out the themes of a confusing movie, for example — you're using discernment. It comes from the Latin word discernere, meaning "separate." Discernment separates what's important or true from what's not.

Example Sentences

Starring in a Broadway production at 96, Squibb deserves a medal, not just for longevity but for discernment and daring as well.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

“That level of discernment is both warranted and healthy.”

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

All of these things, along with countless more, are worth it — the extra minutes they take, the care, the discernment, the near-constant monitoring.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

Still, she said, the question is if human discernment can keep up with rapidly improving technology.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

In a thick drawl, more ponderous than his low mass responses, the priest spoke the Latin phrases with a sonorous, dramatic discernment.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy