deliberation

American  

[dih-lib-uh-rey-shuhn] / dɪˌlɪb əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. careful consideration before decision.

   Synonyms:

   forethought, reflection

2. formal consultation or discussion.

3. deliberate quality; leisureliness of movement or action; slowness.

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deliberation British  

/ dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. thoughtful, careful, or lengthy consideration

2. (often plural) formal discussion and debate, as of a committee, jury, etc

3. care, thoughtfulness, or absence of hurry, esp in movement or speech

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Other Word Forms

• nondeliberation noun
• overdeliberation noun
• predeliberation noun
• redeliberation noun

Etymology

Origin of deliberation

1325–75; Middle English deliberacion < Latin dēlīberātiōn- (stem of dēlīberātiō ), equivalent to dēlīberāt ( us ) ( deliberate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

On Wednesday, the ninth day of deliberation, the jury found that Meta and YouTube were negligent in a case that accused the companies of designing their apps to be addictive and harmful to teens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The justices, in other words, will decide this case the proper way—with full briefing, oral arguments, deliberation, and an opinion—rather than over the shadow docket, with little or no explanation.

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2026

"We agree that the probable causes are an accumulation of many attributes to depression," the jury foreperson said on Thursday, after about two hours of deliberation.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

The specific details are expected to be posted for school board deliberation in February.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

There are nights he still falls asleep on the sofa, without deliberation, waking up at three A.M. with the television still on.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• conference
• consideration
• consultation
• debate
• speculation