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:
He said he was proud he was able to inject discussion of public safety issues and real strategies for solving homelessness into the race.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Smith and Murthy argue that affordability and access must therefore be part of the discussion from the beginning.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
The other day, Slate’s VP of technology, Greg Lavallee, dropped a tip into a Slate Slack discussion that immediately changed my life for the better.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026
Hugh Dallas, the Professional Referee Group director, was at the front of the room, preparing to lead a discussion about decisions from the previous weekend.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
“What we need right now is a thoughtful discussion about how best to proceed.”
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
A final decision is expected to be made on 24 November, subject to discussions at two city council committees before then.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
Then, as now, discussions about AI “consciousness” concealed a basic category error.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
I’ve found the heated discussions over income gaps and housing budgets to be just as juicy as the fights over intimacy as they head into their Netflix-sponsored nuptials.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top military commander, the discussions and wargame tackled a topic few attendees would have openly addressed until recently.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
The convention consisted of six sessions, including several discussions of the role of women in society.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
