indiscretion
Americannoun
-
the characteristic or state of being indiscreet
-
an indiscreet act, remark, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indiscretion
1300–50; Middle English < Late Latin indiscrētiōn- (stem of indiscrētiō ). See in- 3, discretion
Explanation
If you commit an indiscretion you are doing something wrong that shows a lack of judgment. Perhaps stealing candy was your first indiscretion. Likely it will not be your last. You'll often hear the word indiscretion used when referring to politicians or public figures caught in a scandal. Used this way, the word implies poor judgment for both the wrong and the fact that the politician got caught. If you are going to commit an indiscretion, it's best to be a bit discreet, or subtle, about it.
Vocabulary lists containing indiscretion
The Call of the Wild
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Doll's House
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Importance of Being Earnest
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
And Taylor Farms would certainly top the list for anyone glued to a toilet bowl lately, thanks to the company’s alleged indiscretion handling lettuce laced with the “explosive diarrhea” parasite.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
There follows a catalog of gaucheness and indiscretion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Years later, he literally mobilized an army to prevent that brief indiscretion from destroying his political ambitions.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
Instead, they’ve forced a recounting of all the times the royal family and the palace press have covered up, often with outright lies, scandal, indiscretion and health scares.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2024
I don’t know if Ashkan Rezaei always gave out such large servings of faludeh, but I was grateful Stephen Kellner wasn’t around to witness my dietary indiscretion.
From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram
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.
