discipline

²dis·ci·pline

verb \ˈdi-sə-plən\

dis·ci·plineddis·ci·plin·ing

Definition of DISCIPLINE

transitive verb

1

: to punish or penalize for the sake of enforcing obedience and perfecting moral character

2

: to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control

3

a : to bring (a group) under control <discipline troops> b : to impose order upon <serious writers discipline and refine their writing styles>

— dis·ci·plin·er noun

Examples of DISCIPLINE

1. She was disciplined for misbehaving in class.
2. He seems unwilling or unable to discipline his children.
3. I'm trying to discipline myself to eat less.
4. The Army disciplined seven men for the incident, penalties ranging from pay-cuts and loss of rank to dismissal from the Rangers and return to the rank-and-file Army. —Gary Smith, Sports Illustrated, 11 Sept. 2006
5. Volunteers have to undergo a program to discipline the mind and cleanse the soul. —Aparism Ghosh, Time, 4 July 2005
6. The teacher then took me to the principal's office. There, the principal attempted to discipline me with an old Catholic school technique called “paddling” … —Lalo Gomez, Undoing Time, 2001

Origin of DISCIPLINE

(see ¹discipline)

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DISCIPLINE

Synonyms: castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, punish, penalize

Antonyms: excuse, pardon, spare

Related Words: assess, charge, dock, fine, impose, levy, mulct; convict, sentence; condemn, damn, denounce; criticize, keelhaul, rebuke, reprimand, reprove; wreak

Near Antonyms: forfeit; get off, ransom, release; commute, reprieve; absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

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See Synonym Discussion at punish, teach

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis