discipline

noun

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dis·ci·pline | \ ˈdi-sə-plən

Definition of discipline

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : control gained by enforcing obedience or order

b : orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior

c : self-control

2 : punishment

3 : training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character

4 : a field of study

5 : a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity

6 obsolete : instruction

discipline

verb

disciplined; disciplining

Definition of discipline (Entry 2 of 2)

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 troops

b : to impose order upon serious writers discipline and refine their writing styles

Other Words from discipline Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Root and Meanings of Discipline More Example Sentences Learn More about discipline

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Choose the Right Synonym for discipline

Verb

punish, chastise, castigate, chasten, discipline, correct mean to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing. punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing. punished for stealing chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation. chastised his son for neglecting his studies castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure. an editorial castigating the entire city council chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued. chastened by a landslide election defeat discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control. parents must discipline their children correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender. the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

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

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.

Examples of discipline in a Sentence

Noun 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. Verb 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 on the Web: Noun This takes discipline, forethought, and sound planning. — Mark Antonio Wright, National Review, "Can a Conservative Survive in Corporate America?," 27 Mar. 2021 Ahead of the news conference, Megerian looked at Biden’s new verbal discipline, a change for a politician known for garrulousness during much of his career. — David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, "Essential Politics: Biden’s senior appointments are almost 60% women. He’s on track for a historic milestone," 26 Mar. 2021 Her discipline of philology, the study of the development of texts over time, requires comparing manuscripts to each other, building a stemma, or genealogy of texts, from a parent or original manuscript. — David M. Perry, Smithsonian Magazine, "Did the Black Death Rampage Across the World a Century Earlier Than Previously Thought?," 25 Mar. 2021 As part of the culture change, Gates has preached the eight core values of friendship, love, accountability, trust, discipline, unselfishness, enthusiasm and toughness. — cleveland, "Defensive-minded Tre Gomillion is the backbone of Cleveland State’s championship season," 18 Mar. 2021 An advocacy organization for Black city workers filed a state discrimination complaint this week alleging disparities in discipline, pay and raises. — Mallory Moench, San Francisco Chronicle, "S.F. Black employees file state complaint alleging discipline, pay disparities," 18 Mar. 2021 Physical labor, teamwork, discipline — the martial virtues without the martial vices. — New York Times, "Sports Meant So Much to Me. Why Wouldn’t My Son Play?," 16 Mar. 2021 On Saturday, Shiffrin edged closer to the all-time World Cup win record within a individual discipline, held by Ingemar Stenmark. — Christina Macfarlane And Steven Poole, CNN, "Mikaela Shiffrin reveals how she's been inspired by tennis star Iga Świątek," 8 Mar. 2021 To throw those cultural nuances into relief, Vanhee-Cybulski has recruited two co-creators from a different discipline: dance. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, "The Live Hermès Show Will Dance Across the Planet From New York to Paris to Shanghai," 3 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Gray said something to keep an eye on during the campaign is whether Brooks can discipline himself and his fiery rhetoric. — al, "Can Mo Brooks reverse past poor performances in South Alabama?," 25 Mar. 2021 Negotiators in Portland police contract talks argued this week over whether the city has the right to create a civilian police oversight board that could independently discipline officers. — oregonlive, "City advocates for state law to allow creation of civilian police oversight board in Portland without bargaining," 12 Mar. 2021 And police chiefs would be allowed to immediately discipline officers who are criminally convicted of wrongdoing. — Bryn Stole, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland General Assembly bill tracker: A look at key legislation," 8 Mar. 2021 The bill would allow POST to discipline officers found to have violated department use of force policies or exhibited dishonesty or prejudice in the line of duty. — Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Robert Gehrke: Utah lawmakers still need to get these police reforms past the finish line," 2 Mar. 2021 Georgia schools have been resistant to such a plan, citing concerns about costs, the ability to discipline someone who’s not a student and taking places away from other students. — Jeff Amy, ajc, "Bill to let home-schoolers in public school sports advances," 17 Feb. 2021 The city wants to amend that to give the police chief the power to discipline officers within six months of learning about an incident. — Joshua Fechter, San Antonio Express-News, "Talks begin over new contract for San Antonio police amid calls for reform, upcoming vote on bargaining rights," 12 Feb. 2021 The trustees considered for more than six hours whether to discipline or dismiss Alexander before reaching a split decision. — oregonlive, "Oregon State President Alexander staves off dismissal, put on ‘probation’ instead," 18 Mar. 2021 Critics said the panel, which includes four appointees with no policing background and three law enforcement members from unaffiliated departments, lacked authority to discipline and fire officers. — Washington Post, "Metro Transit Police chief says changes underway to address community concerns," 25 Feb. 2021

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.

History and Etymology for discipline

Noun

Middle English, "chastisement, system of ordered conduct, instruction, branch of learning," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin disciplīna "teaching, instruction, branch of study, orderly conduct based on moral training" (Medieval Latin, "chastisement, scourging"), from discipulus "pupil, learner" + -īna, suffix denoting a place or practice (from noun derivative of feminine of -īnus -ine entry 1) — more at disciple

Verb

Middle English disciplinen "to subject to chastisement, educate," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French discipliner, borrowed from Late Latin disciplīnāre "to teach" (Medieval Latin, "to punish, scourge"), derivative of Latin disciplīna "teaching, discipline entry 1"

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Dictionary Entries near discipline

disciplinary

disciplinary barracks

Statistics for discipline

Last Updated

4 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Discipline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for discipline

discipline

noun

English Language Learners Definition of discipline

(Entry 1 of 2)

: control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior

: a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders

: behavior that is judged by how well it follows a set of rules or orders

discipline

verb

English Language Learners Definition of discipline (Entry 2 of 2)

: to punish (someone) as a way of making sure that rules or orders are obeyed

: to train (yourself) to do something by controlling your behavior

See the full definition for discipline in the English Language Learners Dictionary

discipline

noun

dis·ci·pline | \ ˈdi-sə-plən

Kids Definition of discipline

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : punishment sense 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.

discipline

verb

disciplined; disciplining

Kids Definition of discipline (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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