discipline

[ dis-uh-plin ]

See synonyms for discipline on Thesaurus.com

noun

training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: Sticking to specific and regular mealtimes is excellent discipline for many dieters.

a branch of instruction or learning: the disciplines of history and economics.
punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty.
behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.
a set or system of rules and regulations.
Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
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.

to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.

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

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; see origin at disciple; see -ine²

synonym study For discipline

12. See punish.

Other words for discipline

4	chastisement, castigation

See synonyms for discipline on Thesaurus.com

Other words from discipline

dis·ci·pli·nal [dis-uh-pluh-nl, -plin-l, dis-uh-plahyn-l], /ˈdɪs ə plə nl, -ˌplɪn l, ˌdɪs əˈplaɪn 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, o·ver·dis·ci·plined, o·ver·dis·ci·plin·ing.
pre·dis·ci·pline, noun, verb (used with object), pre·dis·ci·plined, pre·dis·ci·plin·ing.
re·dis·ci·pline, verb (used with object), re·dis·ci·plined, re·dis·ci·plin·ing.
sub·dis·ci·pline, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use discipline in a sentence

Failing to attend to these things brings prompt disciplining or patient complaint.
How Being a Doctor Became the Most Miserable Profession | Daniela Drake | April 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
That part of the Constitution gives Congress the authority “for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia.”
Justice Scalia Goes Gun Crazy | Adam Winkler | August 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
High-minded pursuits dovetail with rigidly disciplining your body.
The Stars Predict Your Week | Starsky + Cox | October 29, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Republicans and Democrats need to be responsible for disciplining their own side.
A Manifesto for Young Voters | Mark McKinnon, Rob Shepardson | May 4, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
He had a dim idea of so disciplining his feelings, of attaining a numbed acquiescence in what he could not help.
The Hidden Places | Bertrand W. Sinclair

One of the most effective ways of disciplining an offender is by holding him up to the ridicule of his fellows.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 1995, Memorial Issue | Various
She learned New York town in human sordid enlightening disciplining ways.
I, Mary MacLane | Mary MacLane
During all this time General Stevens was chiefly engaged in training and disciplining his command.
The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Volume II (of 2) | Hazard Stevens
What chance was there among them for correcting and disciplining himself?
Ravenshoe | Henry Kingsley

British Dictionary definitions for discipline

discipline

/ (ˈdɪsɪplɪn) /

noun

training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self-control, etc
systematic training in obedience to regulations and authority

the state of improved behaviour, etc, resulting from such training or conditions
punishment or chastisement
a system of rules for behaviour, methods of practice, etc
a branch of learning or instruction
the laws governing members of a Church
a scourge of knotted cords

verb(tr)

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

Origin of discipline

C13: from Latin disciplīna teaching, from discipulus disciple

Derived forms of discipline

disciplinable, adjective
disciplinal (ˌdɪsɪˈplaɪnəl, ˈdɪsɪˌplɪnəl), adjective
discipliner, noun

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

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