self-discipline
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-discipline
First recorded in 1830–40
Compare meaning
How does self-discipline compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When you are in control of your feelings or impulses, that's called self-discipline. Even if it takes a lot of self-discipline not to giggle when your teacher solemnly scolds the class, you shouldn't let yourself do it. Someone who has the trait of self-discipline is described as self-disciplined. It takes self-discipline to do all sorts of things, from practicing piano every day until you're ready for your recital, to resisting the urge to eat the cupcakes your brother baked for dessert, or biting your tongue instead of telling your cranky neighbor what you really think of her yappy dog. Discipline is used here to mean "practice, knowledge, or training," rather than "punishment."
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.
They have to be willing to spend the whole year working hard on the same things, and if you've been doing that for 25 years, that takes huge self-discipline.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
However, the researchers note that the findings show a correlation, not cause and effect, and that factors like motivation or self-discipline may also influence outcomes.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 30, 2026
Jackson traveled the country preaching self-esteem and self-discipline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026
“Queen Elizabeth II had not been born to succeed,” Mr. Cannadine writes, “but by her example, her self-discipline, her public-spiritedness, and her longevity, she did so in more ways than one.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
They live in seclusion and solitude and are revered for their self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
