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

Those are pretty standard penalties, but then there are two creative add-on disciplinary measures. — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2026

Three Argentine players were suspended and fined by the FIFA disciplinary committee, including a 10-match ban and $90,000 fine for Leandro Paredes for grabbing Spanish defender Eric Garcia by the throat and knocking midfielder Gavi to the ground. — Michelle Kaufman august 21, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Brinkley’s May order warns that officers who initiate pursuits solely for minor traffic offenses or ordinance violations without qualifying circumstances or supervisory approval could face disciplinary action. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026

But the league forced Frank McCourt to sell the Dodgers in 2012 by exerting pressure and threatening a financial takeover or disciplinary action that would have stripped operational control. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 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