discreet

American  

[dih-skreet] / dɪˈskrit /

adjective

1. judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.

   Antonyms:

   indiscreet

2. showing prudence and circumspection; decorous.

   a discreet silence.

3. modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious.

   a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace.

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discreet British  

/ dɪˈskriːt /

adjective

1. careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp by keeping confidences secret; tactful

2. unobtrusive

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Usage

What’s the difference between discreet and discrete? Discreet most commonly means tactful, prudent, or careful to avoid revealing things that may cause embarrassment, such as when communicating sensitive information, as in a discreet message or You can tell her, but be discreet about it. Discrete means separate or distinct, as in discrete concepts or discrete parts. Less commonly, discreet can also mean unobtrusive—a modest necklace may be described as discreet. In all cases, the word discreet is used in situations in which an effort is made to avoid calling attention to someone or something. When you’re being discreet, you’re showing discretion. Discrete, on the other hand, is typically used in technical, non-personal contexts. It has more specific meanings in the context of math and statistics. Here’s a fun way to remember the difference: in discreet, the two e’s are right next to each other—the one e looks like it’s discreetly whispering something in the other’s ear. In discrete, the two e’s are kept separate by the t in the middle. Here’s an example of discreet and discrete used correctly in a sentence. Example: He mistakenly thought the two parts were discrete, but I told him that they are in fact connected—in a discreet way, of course. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between discreet and discrete.

Commonly Confused

See discrete

Related Words

See careful.

Other Word Forms

• discreetly
  adverb
• discreetness
  noun
• overdiscreet
  adjective
• overdiscreetness
  noun
• quasi-discreet
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of discreet

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English discret, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin discrētus, Latin: “separated,” past participle of discernere “to separate,” from dis- dis- ¹ + cernere “to decide, separate, sift”; see discern

Explanation

Discreet describes someone or something that is appropriately quiet, prudent, and restrained. If you are wearing a discreet gray suit, it is unlikely that anyone at that business meeting will notice you. Often people use discreet not only to indicate modesty or carefulness, but also to show a sort of secretiveness along the lines of “You're going to keep this a secret, right?” If no one in your family knows that you like to dress up as a bear, but then your cousin finds out, you may ask him to please be discreet.

Example Sentences

This is a reference to the foreign secretary and outwardly gives cover to Sir Olly's anticipated defence, that the law states he should be discreet with information gathered during vetting.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Long before likes and shares, there wasn’t a door policy exactly, but you could be subject to an unspoken, discreet screening at the host table.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

So the device isn’t as discreet in some regards, but future models might be harder to spot.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026

Her design philosophy mirrors her own discreet personality, with a focus on quality and comfort through quiet evolutions, rather than flashy re-invention.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Normal run-of-the-mill people like me—except for a few discreet tics, sure, who doesn’t have something?—are the exception.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Related Words

• attentive
• careful
• considerate
• intelligent
• noncommittal
• prudent
• reasonable
• restrained
• tactful
• thoughtful
• watchful