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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

Compare meaning

How does self-discipline compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Explanation

When you are in control of your feelings or impulses, that's called self-discipline. Even if it takes a lot of self-discipline not to giggle when your teacher solemnly scolds the class, you shouldn't let yourself do it. Someone who has the trait of self-discipline is described as self-disciplined. It takes self-discipline to do all sorts of things, from practicing piano every day until you're ready for your recital, to resisting the urge to eat the cupcakes your brother baked for dessert, or biting your tongue instead of telling your cranky neighbor what you really think of her yappy dog. Discipline is used here to mean "practice, knowledge, or training," rather than "punishment."

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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.

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

“Queen Elizabeth II had not been born to succeed,” Mr. Cannadine writes, “but by her example, her self-discipline, her public-spiritedness, and her longevity, she did so in more ways than one.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 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

I can get lost in an algorithm on my phone and having the self-discipline to stop and be here now is an ongoing journey.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2024

Perhaps beneath the self-discipline, a touch of rapport in adversity.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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.