discussion
Americannoun
-
discussions
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of discussion
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin discussiōn-, stem of discussiō “inquiry, examination,” Latin: “a shaking,” from discuss(us) “shaken” ( see discuss) + -iō -ion
Explanation
If you're in an ongoing discussion with someone over, say, the best way to train a dog, that means you talk to each other over a long period of time, about all the aspects of dog training. Discussion comes from the Latin for "examination by taking things apart," and when you're having a discussion with someone on a complicated topic, it's like you're taking it apart and trying to understand it. Usually in a discussion, people exchange ideas. If you say, "I adore bananas," and your friend says, "me too," that's hardly a discussion. But if your friend says, "bananas are disgusting," then you can get into a discussion about it.
Vocabulary lists containing discussion
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
President Donald Trump is slated to meet Tuesday with executives from oil companies at the White House, and their discussion will focus in large part on reducing gasoline prices, the White House said Monday.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Although geopolitics kick-started the government's decision to push for a return to EU talks, there has been little discussion of it during the campaign.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
“I think it’s an important discussion and debate. I’m open to argument, interested in evidence,” Newsom said when asked about the debate at an Aug. 19 event in Hayward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Yesterday, I headed downtown to OpenAI’s office in Manhattan for a panel discussion on how Gen Z-ers really feel about artificial intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
He says this with humor but also with finality; I can feel him trying to end this line of discussion.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
She did say the sale was not conducted through a formal bidding process, but proceeded through face-to-face discussions between Kroenke and Moreno.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The bill grew in part out of those discussions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The Rivas spokesman said there haven’t been any discussions about convening a special session soon to resume the wildfire debate and that he doesn’t expect one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
G20 discussions will seek to ensure economies avoid policies that push excess production and capacity into global markets, the official added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
During these discussions Aravis became a little, a very little, less unfriendly to Shasta; one usually gets on better with people when one is making plans than when one is talking about nothing in particular.
From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
