discipline

[ dis-uh-plin ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing.

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

/ ˌdɪsɪˈplaɪnəl; ˈdɪsɪˌplɪnəl; ˈdɪsɪplɪn /

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

verb

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

Derived Forms

• ˈdisciˌplinable, adjective
• ˈdisciˌpliner, noun
• disciplinal, adjective

Other Words From

• dis·ci·pli·nal [dis, -, uh, -pl, uh, -nl, -plin-l, dis-, uh, -, plahyn, -l], adjective
• dis·ci·plin·er noun
• mul·ti·dis·ci·pline noun
• non·dis·ci·plin·ing adjective
• o·ver·dis·ci·pline verb overdisciplined overdisciplining
• pre·dis·ci·pline noun verb (used with object) predisciplined predisciplining
• re·dis·ci·pline verb (used with object) redisciplined redisciplining
• sub·dis·ci·pline noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discipline¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of discipline¹

C13: from Latin disciplīna teaching, from discipulus disciple

Synonym Study

See punish.

Example Sentences

Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation.

From Washington Post

The discipline, drive, and sacrifices required to win—and to consistently stay at the top—resonated with me in Novak Djokovic’s Serve to Win.

From Fortune

It doesn’t mean you have to follow it exactly, but keeping a steady calendar has a way of sharpening discipline.

From Fortune

While she defended Germany’s borrowing binge, Merkel showed that her government aims to maintain as much budget discipline as possible.

From Fortune

The new commission, if approved, would have the ability to recommend discipline for officers, but those decisions would ultimately rest with the police chief.

From Voice of San Diego

He is an immensely talented quarterback who has dedicated his entire life to athletic excellence and discipline.

From The Daily Beast

Bullhooks, whippings, and electric shocks were used as the main methods of discipline and training for their exotic animals.

From The Daily Beast

Four, the recruitment by the Republicans of affable-seeming candidates who had some discipline drilled into them.

From The Daily Beast

Their collective failings come down to message discipline, candidate selection, and voter targeting.

From The Daily Beast

Whether it ultimately takes aesthetic discipline or neurosis to get to that point, it's hard to say.

From The Daily Beast

Very instructive here is the way in which children will voluntarily come and submit themselves to our discipline.

From Project Gutenberg

The fact that the day following the punishment parade was a Sunday brought about a certain relaxation from discipline.

From Project Gutenberg

It secures in many cases, at least, a ready compliance with a large part of the discipline enforced.

From Project Gutenberg

My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both?

From Project Gutenberg

Their discipline is admirable, but their natural disposition is likewise quiet and inoffensive.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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