discount

American  

[dis-kount, dis-kount, dis-kount] / ˈdɪs kaʊnt, dɪsˈkaʊnt, ˈdɪs kaʊnt /

verb (used with object)

• discounts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• discounted,
  past participle,  past
• discounting
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• discounts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• discounted,
  past participle,  past
• discounting
  present participle

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

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

noun

• discounts
  plural

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.

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.

discount British  

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

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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

discount More Idioms  

1. see at a discount.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• discounts
  plural

Participles

• discounting
  present
• discounted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• discount
  simple
• discounts
  simple
• have discounted
  perfect
• has discounted
  perfect
• am discounting
  progressive
• are discounting
  progressive
• is discounting
  progressive
• have been discounting
  perfect progressive
• has been discounting
  perfect progressive

Past

• discounted
  simple
• had discounted
  perfect
• was discounting
  progressive
• were discounting
  progressive
• had been discounting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will discount
  simple
• will have discounted
  perfect
• will be discounting
  progressive
• will have been discounting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of discount

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

Explanation

The noun discount refers to an amount or percentage deducted from the normal selling price of something. If you wait until after the holiday, you can often buy goods at a steep discount — just make sure you need all that stuff. The noun discount means a reduction in price of a good or service. You can ask the manager for a discount if the item is damaged. As a verb, discount means to reduce the price. The manager can discount the item for you. The verb discount also means to disregard, underestimate, or dismiss. If you are a teenager, people will often discount your opinion — but you should keep expressing it because eventually people will listen!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

discount discounts discounted discounting

“For SaaS-era unicorns that raised at 2021 peaks, the exit path has narrowed: Strategic M&A at a discount is increasingly the realistic alternative,” Tunguz said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

London’s public markets have struggled to attract new public offerings—and to hang on to already-listed companies—amid a sustained valuation discount and the greater liquidity of U.S. markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Part of Anderson’s main focus in the months ahead would be fine-tuning the chain’s current discount offerings, Kempczinski said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

Despite outperforming peers, the shares still trade at a discount.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

“I will not discount anything that has endured in our traditions for so long,” said Kaisa, with a small grin.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo

Sector-wise, retail trade lost 19,000 jobs, with employment declining in warehouse retailers -- firms like Costco, Sam's Club and others that offer discounts for wholesale quantities of household goods -- and general merchandise stores.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

McDonald’s reported the results as its rivals try to entice shoppers with aggressive discounts themselves.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

Last year, he estimates he paid a little over $10,000 with twice as many employees—thanks to declining rates, dividends from the fund’s surplus and discounts for two safety programs he participates in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

One luxury hotel in Simeiz –- whose managers did not wish to be named –- said it was offering 30 per cent discounts to bring the tourists back.

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

I’m trying to negotiate a 20 percent price reduction with the fitting room lady when—rotten luck!—Howard shows up and announces that there are no reductions and no employee discounts on clearanced items.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Redemption requests peppering private-credit interval funds have generated opportunities for secondary buyers hoping to acquire discounted assets by providing cash that fund managers can return to investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Kris pops in a disc of “Camp Miasma’s” tawdry 2008 reboot, which cinematographer Eric Yue makes look as flat as the discounted DVD.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

The FBI’s Phoenix office said some ransom notes relating to the February disappearance of Nancy Guthrie were potentially “legitimate,” while others have been discounted as “extortion attempts.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

One big issue for some fashion retailers is having big piles of leftover stock that has to be discounted heavily so they can shift it.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

I give her Kelsea’s home phone number, figuring there will be no obvious record of it, and that it can always be discounted as a wrong number.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

McDonald’s executives conceded on Tuesday that recent discounting initiatives haven’t always worked out and have even turned away some of the restaurant’s biggest fans.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

In Premier League terms, even when discounting the gulf in experience, Pickford boasts an undeniable edge.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

“If demand moderates even at the margin, or if supply is added back too quickly, the old addiction to fare sales and discounting could return.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

But the chain is betting that it can outlast rivals that are discounting their way toward store closures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

It is true, perhaps, that I feel some trifling dislike of deer, but no more dislike than I feel for other natural things— discounting men.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Related Words

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