discovery

[ dih-skuhv-uh-ree ]

/ dɪˈskʌv ə ri /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discovery ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dis·cov·er·ies.

the act or an instance of discovering.

something discovered.

Law. compulsory disclosure, as of facts or documents.

(initial capital letter, italics) U.S. Aerospace. the third space shuttle to orbit and return to earth.

Nearby words

discovered check, discoverer, discoverist, discovert, discoverture, discovery, discovery bay, discovery club, discovery day, discovery inlet, discovery method

Origin of discovery

First recorded in 1545–55; discover + -y³

Related forms

non·dis·cov·er·y, noun, plural non·dis·cov·er·ies.pre·dis·cov·er·y, noun, plural pre·dis·cov·er·ies.re·dis·cov·er·y, noun, plural re·dis·cov·er·ies.self-dis·cov·er·y, noun, plural self·-dis·cov·er·ies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for discovery

In fact, I wrote 212 pages of a novel called The Discovery of Sex that was bought, and I pulled it.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The longtime pals—and co-stars of The Interview—stripped down and tried to survive on the Discovery Channel reality series.
James Franco and Seth Rogen Get ‘Naked and Afraid’… And It’s Hilarious|Marlow Stern|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rice had received this video in discovery during his criminal case, but it had not been aired publicly, as had the first video.
The $44 Million Teflon Don of the NFL|Mike Barnicle|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Much has been said about Stuxnet in the years since its discovery.
How Obama Endangered Us All With Stuxnet|Kim Zetter|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He also believes in aliens, which he divulged on the Discovery Channel special Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking.
The Other Side of Stephen Hawking: Strippers, Aliens, and Disturbing Abuse Claims|Marlow Stern|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By midnight he would be fairly safe from the fear of discovery.
The Shrieking Pit|Arthur J. Rees
We therefore set sail and left for Portugal, greatly rejoicing at our good fortune in having made so great a discovery.
A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama 1497-1499|Unknown
I placed it on the grass some distance away, while the Emperor followed me, utterly astounded at the discovery.
The Secrets of Potsdam|William Le Queux
For this and his former work the name of Davy ought for ever to be inseparably united with the discovery of chemical electricity.
The Royal Institution|Bence Jones
The house being empty, she procured the keys from the landlord, and proceeded on a voyage of discovery alone.
There is no Death|Florence Marryatt

British Dictionary definitions for discovery

discovery

/ (dɪˈskʌvərɪ) /

noun plural -eries

the act, process, or an instance of discovering

a person, place, or thing that has been discovered

law the compulsory disclosure by a party to an action of relevant documents in his possession

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