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discernment

[dih-surn-muhnt, -zurn-]
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noun
  1. the faculty of discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding.
  2. the act or an instance of discerning.
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Origin of discernment

1580–90; < Middle French discernement, equivalent to discern(er) to discern + -ment -ment
Related formsnon·dis·cern·ment, nounpre·dis·cern·ment, nounself-dis·cern·ment, noun

Synonyms

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1. judgment, perspicacity, penetration, insight.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

acumeninsightjudgmentunderstanding

Examples from the Web for discernment

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Your discernment must be very subtle, if you know all that is in my heart.

  • He knew that she was right, and respected her for the discernment.

    Love and Lucy

    Maurice Henry Hewlett

  • Still, I'm going to admit that I don't think her taste and discernment is all it should be.

  • I am therefore incapable of that discernment which is necessary for the ascetic.

    Thais

    Anatole France

  • These men of experience, integrity, and discernment are seekers after truths.

British Dictionary definitions for discernment

discernment

noun
  1. keen perception or judgment
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for discernment

n.

1580s; see discern + -ment.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper