discount

[dis-kount, dis-kount, dis-kount]

verb (used with object)

1. to deduct a certain amount from (a bill, charge, etc.).

   All bills that are paid promptly will be discounted at two percent.

2. to offer for sale or sell at a reduced price.

   The store discounted all clothing for the sale.

3. to advance or lend money with deduction of interest on (commercial paper not immediately payable).

4. to purchase or sell (a bill or note) before maturity at a reduction based on the interest for the time it still has to run.

5. to leave out of account; disregard.

   Even if we discount the irrelevant material, the thesis remains mediocre.

6. to allow for exaggeration in (a statement, opinion, etc.).

   Knowing his political bias they discounted most of his story.

7. to take into account in advance, often so as to diminish the effect of.

   They had discounted the effect of a decline in the stock market.

verb (used without object)

1. to advance or lend money after deduction of interest.

2. to offer goods or services at a reduced price.

noun

1. the act or an instance of discounting.

2. an amount deducted from the usual list price.

3. any deduction from the nominal value.

4. a payment of interest in advance upon a loan of money.

5. the amount of interest obtained by one who discounts.

6. an allowance made for exaggeration or bias, as in a report, story, etc..

   Even after all the discounts are taken, his story sounds phony.

adjective

1. selling or offered at less than the usual or established price.

   discount theater tickets.

2. selling goods at a discount.

   a discount drugstore.

discount

verb

1. to leave out of account as being unreliable, prejudiced, or irrelevant

2. to anticipate and make allowance for, often so as to diminish the effect of

3. 1. to deduct (a specified amount or percentage) from the usual price, cost, etc

   2. to reduce (the regular price, cost, etc) by a stated percentage or amount

4. to sell or offer for sale at a reduced price

5. to buy or sell (a bill of exchange, etc) before maturity, with a deduction for interest determined by the time to maturity and also by risk

6. (also intr) to loan money on (a negotiable instrument that is not immediately payable) with a deduction for interest determined by risk and time to maturity

noun

1. a deduction from the full amount of a price or debt, as in return for prompt payment or to a special group of customers See also cash discount trade discount

2. Also called: discount rate. 

   1. the amount of interest deducted in the purchase or sale of or the loan of money on unmatured negotiable instruments

   2. the rate of interest deducted

3. 1. (in the issue of shares) a percentage deducted from the par value to give a reduced amount payable by subscribers

   2. the amount by which the par value of something, esp shares, exceeds its market value Compare premium

4. the act or an instance of discounting a negotiable instrument

5. 1. below the regular price

   2. (of share values) below par

   3. held in low regard; not sought after or valued

6. (modifier) offering or selling at reduced prices

   a discount shop

Other Word Forms

• discountable adjective
• nondiscount adjective
• nondiscountable adjective
• nondiscounted adjective
• overdiscount verb (used with object)
• prediscount noun
• prediscountable adjective
• superdiscount noun
• undiscountable adjective
• undiscounted adjective
• discounter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discount¹

First recorded in 1615–25; dis- ¹ + count ¹, modeled on French décompter, Old French desconter, from Medieval Latin discomputāre

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at a discount,

   1. Commerce. below par.

   2. below the usual list price.

   3. in low esteem or regard.

      His excuses were taken at a discount by all who knew him.

   4. not in demand; unwanted.

      Such ancient superstitions are at a discount in a civilized society.

see at a discount.

Example Sentences

And B&M Bargains, one of the UK's biggest discount chains, has launched a turnaround plan due to weak sales.

Read more on BBC

As a result, the company started using discounts to drive sales, said Heaf, a former Nike and Burberry executive, who joined Bath & Body Works in May.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s also been heavily discounting and seen revenue at its Converse brand tumble 27% during its most recent fiscal first quarter.

Read more on MarketWatch

Some of that has to be discounted, since everyone is bidding for multiple contracts and all of them won’t be approved.

Read more on Barron's

The 15 stocks trade for an average of just 14 times estimated 2026 earnings, a big discount to the 20 times ratio for dividend payers in the S&P 500.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• disregard 
• doubt 
• forget 
• minimize 
• neglect 
• omit 
• overlook 
• reject