discussion
Americannoun
-
discussions
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of discussion
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin discussiōn-, stem of discussiō “inquiry, examination,” Latin: “a shaking,” from discuss(us) “shaken” ( see discuss) + -iō -ion
Explanation
If you're in an ongoing discussion with someone over, say, the best way to train a dog, that means you talk to each other over a long period of time, about all the aspects of dog training. Discussion comes from the Latin for "examination by taking things apart," and when you're having a discussion with someone on a complicated topic, it's like you're taking it apart and trying to understand it. Usually in a discussion, people exchange ideas. If you say, "I adore bananas," and your friend says, "me too," that's hardly a discussion. But if your friend says, "bananas are disgusting," then you can get into a discussion about it.
Vocabulary lists containing discussion
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 4
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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:
A proposal under discussion would allow Persian Gulf-bound ships to enter through Iranian waters while vessels leaving would pass through Omani waters without paying fees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
To the contrary, the entire discussion on YouTube was about Grande’s body, not the video’s visuals or the music, a lovely torch song where she compares herself to a “petal in the pavement.”
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
“I think, for us, it’s not really a discussion we really have in our locker room,” Clark said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
The software firm is previewing new security services based on agentic AI, he explains, but is in discussion with corporate customers about how to charge for them.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
During the opening panel discussion, he, like everyone else, had pretended he hadn’t heard John Devaney.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
On Monday, Trump said discussions were taking place at the request of Iran and several Gulf states.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said there were no discussions taking place and that the country had no plans to either host or send delegations.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been progress made in discussions on getting more ships through the Strait with Iran and Oman.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Employing more AI agents can be done with the click of a button, whereas expanding the human workforce would involve careful discussions over headcount and hiring, he says.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The discussions over the school budget sounded much like a couple talking around their kitchen table with a stack of bills, no hope of paying them and nothing but bad options.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
