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 requires a lot of time and discipline but brings no glory, which is probably why none of the male editors deign to do it. — Laura Marsh, The New Republic, "Infinite Jerk," 12 Feb. 2020 Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. — Erika Fry, Fortune, "Will summer kill the coronavirus?," 11 Feb. 2020 Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. — Nadia Kounang, CNN, "President Trump tweeted the coronavirus could weaken as weather warms. Scientists say it's too early to know," 7 Feb. 2020 Indeed, the general ability of these organisms to thrive in conditions where most organisms break down, mutate, or develop cancers warrants further study across a variety of disciplines. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, "You Should Know About This Chernobyl Fungus That Eats Radiation," 6 Feb. 2020 Through careful songcraft and high level of discipline, Gess hopes drag music can assist cementing this culture in the eyes of a global industry, reaching new audiences and lifting up the LGBTQ+ community. — Eleanor Forrest, Billboard, "What Drag Queen Music Collaborator GESS Thinks About the Genre's Future," 6 Feb. 2020 Jones previously announced discipline was forthcoming, and supervisors would receive a greater degree of disciplinary action. — Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit firefighters disciplined for photo in front of burning house," 23 Jan. 2020 As government revenue drops, fiscal discipline will be the first victim. — Alvaro Vargas Llosa, WSJ, "Mexico’s ‘Tropical Messiah’ Browbeats Critics and Bullies the Press," 22 Jan. 2020 The partisan discipline of Democrats and Republicans and the shouting and prevalence of the partisan media environment are new and different today. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Thanks for all the sunny days," 9 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb None of the African American students in the original group messages were disciplined, according to the lawsuit. — Meredith Spelbring, Detroit Free Press, "Saline High students suspended over racist Snapchat sue school district, cite free speech," 12 Feb. 2020 No Astros players were disciplined in the sign-stealing scandal. — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati.com, "After Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, Pete Rose asks for reinstatement," 5 Feb. 2020 Barrett listed his concerns in the letter: Whether the video was released in accordance with department rules, and, if not, who was responsible for the release and how they would be disciplined for breaking the rules. — Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mayor Tom Barrett, Sen. Lena Taylor question release of video of police interview with real estate developer," 31 Jan. 2020 Manfred decided that no players would be disciplined for breaking rules prohibiting the use of electronics to steal catcher's signs. — Jimmy Golen, Houston Chronicle, "Red Sox fire Alex Cora in wake of cheating scandal," 14 Jan. 2020 Manfred decided that no players would be disciplined for breaking rules prohibiting the use of electronics to steal catcher’s signs in 2017 after levying penalties against Boston and the New York Yankees. — Jimmy Golen, SFChronicle.com, "Red Sox fire manager Alex Cora in sign-stealing scandal," 14 Jan. 2020 To date, no one above Compton has been disciplined. — Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, "Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines," 2 Jan. 2020 Two Wyoming high school students have reportedly been disciplined after showing up to school dressed in white robes, pointed hats and crosses, outfits reminiscent of the KKK. — Breanna Edwards, Essence, "Wyoming High School Students Disciplined After Dressing As KKK," 20 Dec. 2019 According to the student, Finney said he would be disciplined with one period of in-school suspension. — Robin Goist, cleveland, "Akron East High School principal accused of striking student in face after being called a ‘lazy ass bitch’," 2 Oct. 2019

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

15 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Discipline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

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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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