Definition of discipline
1 : punishment
2 obsolete : instruction
3 : a field of study
4 : training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
5a : control gained by enforcing obedience or orderb : orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behaviorc : self-control
6 : a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
From the M-W Editors
Examples of discipline in a Sentence
Sir Robert Peel is credited with creating the first modern police force, the bobbies, in London, in 1829, but the transformation of law enforcement, and especially forensic science, into a professional discipline was a haphazard affair. —Jeffrey Toobin, New Yorker, 7 May 2007
Pragmatism became America's most important contribution to the life of the mind in the 20th century. Filtered through scores of later interpreters, it percolated across a broad segment of academic culture and influenced disciplines as diverse as literary criticism and legal theory. —Theo Anderson, Wilson Quarterly, Summer 2007
So the next fall I went to Hampshire College and began studying under Herbert Bernstein. Without him, I would never have become a scientist. He shamed me into doing the hard work necessary to be able not just to talk about math and physics but to calculate. Without that discipline, my story would have been very different … —Lee Smolin, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005
He stood erect, his bearing patrician, his dress impeccable. His face was stern and his pale eyes unsmiling behind his trifocals, like a man who had been called from important duties in the principal's office to administer discipline to an unruly classroom. —Nick Taylor, Laser, 2000
The teacher has a hard time maintaining discipline in the classroom.
The troops were praised for their dedication and discipline.
Some parents feel that the school's principal has been too harsh in meting out discipline.
Keeping a journal is a good discipline for a writer.
Recent Examples of discipline from the Web
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Achievement First, a group of 34 schools on America’s east coast which is famed for tough discipline, is testing a similar model.
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Two are pending, and the third was dismissed without discipline.
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Two are pending, and the third was dismissed without discipline.
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Two of those cases remain open, and one was closed without any discipline.
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Two of them remain open, while the third was closed without discipline.
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Two are pending, and the third was dismissed without discipline.
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Two are pending, and the third was dismissed without discipline.
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Two are pending, and the third was dismissed without discipline.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discipline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Root and Meanings of discipline
Discipline comes from discipulus, the Latin word for pupil, which also provided the source of the word disciple (albeit by way of a Late Latin sense-shift to “a follower of Jesus Christ in his lifetime”). Given that several meanings of discipline deal with study, governing one’s behavior, and instruction, one might assume that the word’s first meaning in English had to do with education. In fact, the earliest known use of discipline appears to be punishment-related; it first was used in the 13th century to refer to chastisement of a religious nature, such as self-flagellation.
Origin and Etymology of discipline
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin disciplina teaching, learning, from discipulus pupil
Other Education Terms
Definition of discipline
disciplined
;disciplining
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
3a : to bring (a group) under control discipline troopsb : to impose order upon serious writers discipline and refine their writing styles
discipliner
nounExamples of discipline in a Sentence
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
Volunteers have to undergo a program to discipline the mind and cleanse the soul. —Aparism Ghosh, Time, 4 July 2005
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
She was disciplined for misbehaving in class.
He seems unwilling or unable to discipline his children.
I'm trying to discipline myself to eat less.
Recent Examples of discipline from the Web
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A second is that Clinton triumphed because his staff were able to craft a coherent, disciplined message and to present the president not as an angry aggressor but as the hapless victim of vindictive opponents.
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The ACLU says instead of de-escalating the student’s outbursts, teachers disciplined and physically restrained him.
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Howard Brookins, 21st, a longtime advocate of police reform and a critic of how cops are disciplined.
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Two others have been disciplined in the case: the 911 call taker, Constance Hollinger, and officer William Cunningham, who was working was working off-duty at the rec center without permission.
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The reasons for the Republican lurch away from running highly-disciplined, by-the-book campaigns on curbing spending and stoking economic growth is, in part, the evidence of how fully Trump has upended the party.
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Pascual also has a $1 million medical malpractice judgment against her in Miami-Dade court stemming from the same incident for which she was disciplined.
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Chaffetz questioned whether Watt planned to discipline Mayopoulos, as was advised by the FHFA’s watchdog, the letter shows.
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He might be being extremely disciplined about rendering that advice in private with the president.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discipline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of discipline
see 1discipline
Synonym Discussion of discipline
teach, instruct, educate, train, discipline, school mean to cause to acquire knowledge or skill. teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn. taught us a lot about our planet instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching. instructs raw recruits in military drill educate implies development of the mind. more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view. trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft discipline implies training in habits of order and precision. a disciplined mind school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master. schooled the horse in five gaits
Other Education Terms
DISCIPLINE Defined for English Language Learners
discipline
playDefinition of discipline for English Language Learners
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: control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior
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: a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders
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: behavior that is judged by how well it follows a set of rules or orders
discipline
playDefinition of discipline for English Language Learners
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: to punish (someone) as a way of making sure that rules or orders are obeyed
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: to train (yourself) to do something by controlling your behavior
DISCIPLINE Defined for Kids
Definition of discipline for Students
1 : punishment 1
2 : strict training that corrects or strengthens “Boys need discipline,” he said.
3 : habits and ways of acting that are gotten through practice At this point in the act the penguins always forgot their discipline … — Richard and Florence Atwater, Mr. Popper's Penguins
4 : control that is gained by insisting that rules be followed The teacher tried to maintain discipline.
Definition of discipline for Students
disciplined
;disciplining
1 : to punish as a way to bring about good behavior The principal disciplined the troublemakers.
2 : to train in self-control or obedience The diet disciplines overeaters.
3 : to bring under control discipline troops
Learn More about discipline
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for discipline Spanish Central: Translation of discipline Nglish: Translation of discipline for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of discipline for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about discipline
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