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View synonyms for discipline

discipline

[ dis-uh-plin ]

noun

  1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill:

    military discipline.

  2. an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training:

    Sticking to specific and regular mealtimes is excellent discipline for many dieters.

  3. a branch of instruction or learning:

    the disciplines of history and economics.

  4. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.

    Synonyms: castigation, chastisement

  5. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.:

    the harsh discipline of poverty.

  6. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control:

    good discipline in an army.

  7. a set or system of rules and regulations.
  8. Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
  9. an instrument of punishment, especially a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.


verb (used with object)

, dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing.
  1. to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
  2. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
  3. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.

discipline

/ ˈdɪsɪˌplɪnəl; ˈdɪsɪplɪn; ˌdɪsɪˈplaɪnəl /

noun

  1. training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self-control, etc
  2. systematic training in obedience to regulations and authority
  3. the state of improved behaviour, etc, resulting from such training or conditions
  4. punishment or chastisement
  5. a system of rules for behaviour, methods of practice, etc
  6. a branch of learning or instruction
  7. the laws governing members of a Church
  8. a scourge of knotted cords
“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

verb

  1. to improve or attempt to improve the behaviour, orderliness, etc, of by training, conditions, or rules
  2. to punish or correct
“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
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Derived Forms

  • disciplinal, adjective
  • ˈdisciˌpliner, noun
  • ˈdisciˌplinable, adjective
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Other Words From

  • dis·ci·pli·nal [dis, -, uh, -pl, uh, -nl, -plin-l, dis-, uh, -, plahyn, -l], adjective
  • dis·ci·plin·er noun
  • mul·ti·dis·ci·pline noun
  • non·dis·ci·plin·ing adjective
  • o·ver·dis·ci·pline verb overdisciplined overdisciplining
  • pre·dis·ci·pline noun verb (used with object) predisciplined predisciplining
  • re·dis·ci·pline verb (used with object) redisciplined redisciplining
  • sub·dis·ci·pline noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of discipline1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin disciplīna “instruction, tuition,” equivalent to discipul(us) “pupil, learner, trainee” + -ina noun suffix; disciple; -ine 2
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Word History and Origins

Origin of discipline1

C13: from Latin disciplīna teaching, from discipulus disciple
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Synonym Study

See punish.
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Example Sentences

In their wins over England and Wales, their traditional flamboyance was married with discipline and steel, a hybrid of classic Wallaby swagger and the ruthless efficiency their coach, Joe Schmidt, perfected as coach of Ireland.

From BBC

Turns out they were just disciplining their son.

She aimed her essay, though, on a change she sensed was underway in the discipline of art history.

She says the “big idea” came from parents who wanted something to give them a real flavour of the school, such as how important sport was or the approach to discipline.

From BBC

Any employees who obstructed or delayed an investigation, the email said, could be disciplined or fired under county policies.

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disciplinarydisciplined