disciplinarian
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Etymology
Origin of disciplinarian
First recorded in 1575–85; discipline + -arian
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.
The family was conservative; her dad, a disciplinarian.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025
In later years, Buhari attributed his disciplinarian bent to spending his formative years at boarding school, where corporal punishment was the norm, and in the military.
From BBC • Jul. 13, 2025
Children, according to the old disciplinarian maxim, should be seen and not heard.
From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2023
He is known as a disciplinarian with a track record of giving players second chances and succeeding at the junior college level.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2023
In charge of them all and entrusted by the legislature to build the new prison was a cruel but innovative disciplinarian, Elam Lynds.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
