- past tense form of discipline.
- past participle of discipline.
disciplined
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disciplined
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; discipline + -ed 2
Explanation
People who are disciplined are either rule-followers or they are controlled and efficient. A disciplined runner who's training for a marathon has a regular, daily exercise routine. Your disciplined puppy might be the star of her obedience class, the very best at "sit" and "stay." And your cousin who speaks six languages is also disciplined — she studies, reads, and practices speaking for hours every day. Disciplined comes from the noun discipline, which has come to mean "punishment," but is rooted in the Latin word disciplina, "teaching or knowledge," and also "military discipline."
Vocabulary lists containing disciplined
Ghost
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"La Vida Robot" and "Reading, Writing and... Recreation"
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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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.
Quite the contrast to Miles’s sharply disciplined wife, Kate, a specialist in the poetry of Milton and Blake and an academic star.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Despite this, America’s 23.8 million millionaires report being more financially disciplined, confident, optimistic and clear about their finances than the average American.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026
The sovereign-wealth fund typically looks for hedge funds with a strong investment philosophy, competitive edge and disciplined risk-management process, Yeo said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
And he stayed disciplined as Nola tried to get him to chase a fastball up and two breaking balls in the dirt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
I tried to keep it focused on my surroundings, but I was tired and so I let it run a bit off leash for lack of the energy to remain disciplined.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
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.
