deliberation

1 of 3

noun (1)

de·​lib·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the act of thinking about or discussing something and deciding carefully : the act of deliberating

After careful deliberation, he decided to study medicine rather than law.

b

: a discussion and consideration by a group of persons (such as a jury or legislature) of the reasons for and against a measure

The jury returned a verdict after a four-hour deliberation.

2

: the quality or state of being deliberate

spoke with clarity and deliberation

worked with deliberation on the painting

deliberative

di-ˈli-bə-ˌrā-tiv 

-ˈli-b(ə-)rə-

adjective

deliberatively adverb

deliberativeness noun

deliberative

2 of 3

adjective

de·​lib·​er·​a·​tive

-āt|, 

|ēv also |əv;

-b(ə)rət|, 

-rət|

: of, relating to, or marked by deliberation : proceeding or acting by discussion and examination : engaged in or devoted to deliberation

a deliberative body

see deliberative assembly

deliberatively

|ə̇vlē, 

-li

adverb

deliberativeness

|ə̇vnə̇s

noun

plural -es

deliberative

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural -s

obsolete

: a deliberative discourse or topic

Synonyms of deliberation

Noun (1)

• consideration

Examples of deliberation in a Sentence

Noun (1)

After hours of deliberation, the council came to a decision.

Jury deliberations lasted two days.

She spoke to the audience with clarity and deliberation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Commissioners have heard presentations from county officials and deliberations will continue through Wednesday, June 17, according to Tripple’s presentation. —Idaho Statesman, 15 June 2026

She was marginalized and not included in the deliberations to attack Venezuela or Iran. —Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026

The Consumers sale proposal culminated years of deliberations by the utility over whether to keep, sell or remove the dams, which average 106 years old. —CBS News, 12 June 2026

Do charm and accessibility play any role in your deliberations? —John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English deliberacioun, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French deliberacion, borrowed from Latin dēlīberātiōn-, dēlīberātiō, from dēlīberāre "to think about carefully, weigh the pros and cons" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at deliberate entry 1

Adjective

Latin deliberativus, from deliberatus + -ivus -ive

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for deliberation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

deliberation

noun

de·​lib·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌlib-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act of deliberating

2

: a discussion and consideration of the reasons for and against something

3

: the quality of being deliberate : deliberateness

Legal Definition

deliberation

noun

de·​lib·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the act of deliberating compare premeditation

b

: a discussion and consideration by a group of persons (as a jury or legislature) of the reasons for or against a measure

2

: the quality or state of being deliberate

killing with deliberation

deliberative

dē-ˈli-bə-ˌrā-tiv, -brə-tiv 

adjective