disciplinarian

noun

dis·​ci·​pli·​nar·​i·​an ˌdi-sə-plə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: one who disciplines or enforces order especially by consistently applying punishment for disobedient or defiant behavior

… her father, … a strict disciplinarian whose laser-like focus uplifted his family from poverty …

—Lester Fabian Brathwaite

disciplinarian adjective

Examples of disciplinarian in a Sentence

The school's principal is a strict disciplinarian.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mitevska also refuses to sanctify Mother Teresa more than necessary, instead portraying her as a strict disciplinarian who believed in organizational practicality as much as in the inherent holiness of children. —Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025

Considering his managers at Leeds included disciplinarians such as Wilkinson and George Graham, this was probably for the best. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 29 July 2025

By several accounts, Xi was a ferocious disciplinarian. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

Either way, Columbia could more easily identify the protesters, much to the advantage of disciplinarians looking to move fast. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

disciplin(ary) + -arian

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disciplinarian

• authoritarian
• communitarian
• egalitarian
• equalitarian
• humanitarian
• majoritarian
• octogenarian
• parliamentarian
• radiolarian
• totalitarian
• utilitarian
• agrarian

Kids Definition

disciplinarian

noun

dis·​ci·​pli·​nar·​i·​an ˌdis-ə-plə-ˈner-ē-ən 

: one who disciplines or enforces order

disciplinarian adjective