discovery

American  

[dih-skuhv-uh-ree] / dɪˈskʌv ə ri /

noun

plural

discoveries

1. the act or process of seeing, finding, or gaining knowledge of something previously unknown, or an instance of this.

   The university is dedicated to the discovery, development, communication, and application of knowledge in a wide range of academic and professional fields.

   Shortly after the discovery of the tomb, many people associated with the expedition died.

2. something found, found out, noticed, or realized.

   In 2009, archaeologists in Rome unearthed a startling discovery: the remains of an elaborate banquet hall built during the reign of Nero.

3. Law. the compulsory exchange or disclosure of information, evidence, documents, etc., in preparation for a lawsuit or trial.

   The plaintiff filed a motion to compel discovery, but the defendants argued that some of the information was exempt.

4. U.S. Aerospace. none Discovery the third space shuttle to orbit and return to earth.

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discovery British  

/ dɪˈskʌvərɪ /

noun

1. the act, process, or an instance of discovering

2. a person, place, or thing that has been discovered

3. law the compulsory disclosure by a party to an action of relevant documents in his possession

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Usage

What does discovery mean? A discovery is something that has been discovered—found or found out about for the first time. Discovery can also mean the process of discovering. Discoveries involve finding or gaining knowledge about something that was previously unknown or unseen. The word is especially associated with finding new places (as in the discovery of new lands) and scientific breakthroughs (as in the discovery of a cure). The word discovery is also used in a much more specific way in the context of law, in which it refers to the required disclosure of things like documents to the other party during a legal proceeding, as in These invoices were produced by client during discovery. Example: Ancient Oceanic peoples discovered new methods of seafaring that allowed their discovery and settlement of faraway islands.

Other Word Forms

• nondiscovery noun
• prediscovery noun
• rediscovery noun
• self-discovery noun

Etymology

Origin of discovery

First recorded in 1545–55; discover + -y ³

Explanation

The noun discovery means the finding or uncovering of something. The discovery of a body is usually an important plot point in a mystery novel. The process of finding, realizing, or unearthing something is discovery, like your discovery of a live lizard in the birthday box your aunt mailed from Arizona. The lizard is also a discovery — the thing that is found. In law, discovery means the obligation to reveal any relevant documents to the opposing party in a legal case. The Latin root, discooperire, basically translates as "the opposite of covering something up."

Example Sentences

It has been a nightmare discovery for parents like Noorman, who enrolled his daughter there in 2022 when she was two years old.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Although this discovery answers the question of the orb's identity, it also highlights how much remains unknown about life in the deep ocean.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

This discovery points to a new class of antibacterial materials that could be both safe for people and capable of reducing reliance on traditional antibiotics.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

“The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton” is a vivid and erudite reimagining of Barton’s life encased within a present-day murder mystery that revolves around the discovery of a transcribed account of Barton’s visions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The Americans took possession of them and gave the man a few coins as a reward for his discovery.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

Related Words

• analysis
• detection
• diagnosis
• disclosure
• encounter
• exploration
• introduction
• revelation
• sighting