discernment

American  

[dih-surn-muhnt, -zurn-] / dɪˈsɜrn mənt, -ˈzɜrn- /

noun

1. the faculty of discerning; discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding.

   Synonyms:

   insight, penetration, perspicacity, judgment

2. the act or an instance of discerning. discerning.

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discernment British  

/ dɪˈsɜːnmənt /

noun

1. keen perception or judgment

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Usage

What does discernment mean? Discernment is the ability to recognize small details, accurately tell the difference between similar things, and make intelligent judgements by using such observations.It’s a noun form of the verb discern, which means to recognize, distinguish, or make judgments in this way, as in These two scents may smell identical to the average person, but an experienced perfumer can discern the difference between them.Things that can be identified or distinguished in such a way can be described as discernible. The adjective discerning can be used to describe someone who shows discernment or to describe such an ability, as in Most chefs have a very discerning palate. A close synonym is discriminating. The noun discrimination can be used to mean the same thing as discernment (though it’s more commonly used to refer to the practice of prejudicial treatment, which is not one of the senses of discernment).Example: Only through careful discernment can you tell a genuine artifact from the work of a counterfeiter.

Other Word Forms

• nondiscernment noun
• prediscernment noun
• self-discernment noun

Etymology

Origin of discernment

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French discernement, equivalent to discern(er) “to separate” ( discern ) + -ment -ment

Example Sentences

She said that through last year, shoppers showed “continued resilience, strong focus on value and affordability, and increasing discernment in spending decisions.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

Before that, when I was assigned a similar reading list as a student at Boston College, a Jesuit school, the goal was to cultivate moral and spiritual discernment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

The early-aughts “poptimism” that judged the judgey for demonstrating judgment opened the door to an everything-is pretty-OK lack of discernment.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

“The focus shouldn’t be on renters to have discernment but on these rental apps to regulate their platform so that users can avoid potential scams or manipulation during their search.”

From Slate • Oct. 17, 2025

But then, of course, I hasten to add, there are many valets who would never dream of indulging in this sort of folly - who are, in fact, professionals of the highest discernment.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro