disciplinary

adjective

dis·​ci·​plin·​ary ˈdi-sə-plə-ˌner-ē 

especially British ˌdi-sə-ˈpli-nə-rē

1

a

: of or relating to discipline

disciplinary problems

b

: designed to correct or punish disobedient or defiant behavior

took disciplinary action

2

: of or relating to a particular field of study

academic disciplinary specialization

disciplinarily

ˌdi-sə-plə-ˈner-ə-lē 

adverb

disciplinarity

ˌdi-sə-plə-ˈner-ə-tē 

noun

Synonyms of disciplinary

• punitive
• correctional

Examples of disciplinary in a Sentence

The committee is considering disciplinary measures against him.

called for disciplinary actions in response to the outrageous behavior

Recent Examples on the Web

Another major change concerns the High Judicial Council, which oversees magistrates’ appointments and disciplinary matters. —ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026

Now the 28-year-old, who was placed on unpaid non-disciplinary leave on Friday, may never pitch in the majors again. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026

The union alleged in the statement members have documented multiple incidents since 2022, including retaliation, terminations and denial to translate disciplinary hearings. —Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026

City officials said the pension board is an independent body, and its determinations are not affected by city disciplinary actions so the disability pension is not affected by his firing. —Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin disciplīnārius, from Latin disciplīna "teaching, discipline entry 1" + -ārius -ary entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for disciplinary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

disciplinary

adjective

dis·​ci·​plin·​ary ˈdis-ə-plə-ˌner-ē 

: of or relating to discipline : corrective

take disciplinary action