discipline

American  

[dis-uh-plin] / ˈdɪs ə plɪn /

noun

1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill.

   military discipline.

2. an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.

   Sticking to specific and regular mealtimes is excellent discipline for many dieters.

3. a branch of instruction or learning.

   the disciplines of history and economics.

4. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.

   Synonyms:

   castigation, chastisement

5. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc..

   the harsh discipline of poverty.

6. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control.

   good discipline in an army.

7. a set or system of rules and regulations.

8. Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.

9. an instrument of punishment, especially a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.

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verb (used with object)

disciplined, disciplining

1. to train by instruction and exercise; drill.

2. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.

3. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.

discipline British  

/ ˈdɪsɪˌplɪnəl, ˈdɪsɪplɪn, ˌdɪsɪˈplaɪnəl /

noun

1. training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self-control, etc

2. systematic training in obedience to regulations and authority

3. the state of improved behaviour, etc, resulting from such training or conditions

4. punishment or chastisement

5. a system of rules for behaviour, methods of practice, etc

6. a branch of learning or instruction

7. the laws governing members of a Church

8. a scourge of knotted cords

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verb

1. to improve or attempt to improve the behaviour, orderliness, etc, of by training, conditions, or rules

2. to punish or correct

Related Words

See punish.

Other Word Forms

• disciplinable adjective
• disciplinal adjective
• discipliner noun
• multidiscipline noun
• nondisciplining adjective
• overdiscipline verb
• prediscipline noun
• rediscipline verb (used with object)
• subdiscipline noun

Etymology

Origin of discipline

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin disciplīna “instruction, tuition,” equivalent to discipul(us) “pupil, learner, trainee” + -ina noun suffix; disciple; -ine ²

Example Sentences

Allen and Pérez also said they wanted a fuller explanation of the discipline of a 32-year agency veteran who challenged State Farm over its handling of wildfire claims.

From Los Angeles Times

Warsh needs to persuade them that a smaller balance sheet isn’t a step backward, but a return to a more disciplined and resilient operating framework.

From Barron's

“Before buying anything back, pause and ask one disciplined question: ‘If I had cash today and had never owned this, would I buy it at this price?’”

From MarketWatch

For disciplined savers already contributing heavily and investing broadly, the lift may be marginal.

From MarketWatch

In a statement, FIS told BBC Sport: "For athletes who choose to compete in multiple disciplines and/or multiple events, conflicts can sometimes be inevitable."

From BBC

Related Words

• control
• development
• education
• method
• practice
• preparation
• regulation
• restraint
• self-control
• self-restraint
• will