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Synonyms

self-discipline

American  
[self-dis-uh-plin, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈdɪs ə plɪn, ˈsɛlf- /

noun

  1. discipline and training of oneself, usually for improvement.

    Acquiring the habit of promptness requires self-discipline.
self-discipline British  

noun

  1. the act of disciplining or power to discipline one's own feelings, desires, etc, esp with the intention of improving oneself

"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

Other Word Forms

  • self-disciplined adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-discipline

First recorded in 1830–40

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Example Sentences

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However, the researchers note that the findings show a correlation, not cause and effect, and that factors like motivation or self-discipline may also influence outcomes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

He wants the nation to reflect on the things that he’s asked his own son to understand: “self-restraint and self-discipline and self-control.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Jackson traveled the country preaching self-esteem and self-discipline.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

He says it requires routine and self-discipline and leaves him ready to "face the day and to face life".

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

Courtney admired his self-discipline, which she felt she had in short supply.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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.