dis·ci·pline
ˈdi-sə-plən 
1
a
: control gained by enforcing obedience or order
b
: orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior
c
2
4
: a field of study
5
: a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
6
obsolete
: instruction
disciplined; disciplining
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
3
a
: to bring (a group) under control
discipline troops
b
: to impose order upon
serious writers discipline and refine their writing styles
discipliner
noun
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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.
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
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2025
This law also explicitly subjects federal prosecutors to state bar discipline.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2025
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Aides describe her administration as disciplined, exacting, and highly attuned to data.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discipline
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Finch was unimpressed with his team’s offensive game plan discipline in the face of a desperate defense.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2025
This law also explicitly subjects federal prosecutors to state bar discipline.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
One main reason Holmes says Riverside players knew or should have known: Lorch frequently disciplined players for various violations during practice, from missing free throws to not running hard during sprints.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Aides describe her administration as disciplined, exacting, and highly attuned to data.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discipline
Cite this Entry
“Discipline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discipline
1 of 2 noun
dis·ci·pline
ˈdis-ə-plən
1
: a field of study : subject
2
: strict training that corrects or strengthens mental ability or moral character
4
: control gained by enforcing obedience or order
trying to maintain discipline
5
: a system of rules governing conduct
discipline
2 of 2 verb
disciplined; disciplining
1
: to punish or penalize for the sake of discipline
2
: to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control
3
: to bring under control
discipline troops
discipliner
noun
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