dis·count
ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt 
1
: a reduction made from the gross (see gross entry 1 sense 3b) amount or value of something: such as
a(1)
: a reduction made from a regular or list price
offering customers a ten percent discount
buy tickets at a discount
(2)
: a proportionate deduction from a debt account usually made for cash or prompt payment
b
: a deduction made for interest in advancing money upon or purchasing a bill or note not due
2
: the act or practice of discounting (see discount entry 2)
3
: a deduction taken or allowance made
… we may … have to make very heavy discount, or even sometimes to reject our author's conclusions altogether.—
G. G. Coulton
G. G. Coulton
dis·count
ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt
di-ˈskau̇nt
di-ˈskau̇nt
discounted; discounting; discounts
1
a
: to make a deduction (see deduction sense 1a) from usually for cash or prompt payment
a discounted price
b
: to sell or offer for sale at a discount (see discount entry 1 sense 1)
discounting last year's model
2
: to lend money on after deducting the discount
3
a
: to leave out of account or consideration : disregard
discount the possibility that the situation may worsen
its effect cannot be entirely discounted
b
: to minimize the importance of
shouldn't discount his contributions
c(1)
: to make allowance (see allowance entry 1 sense 2) for bias or exaggeration in
discount most of their claims
(2)
: to view with doubt
discount a rumor
d
: to anticipate or take into account (something, such as a future event) in present calculations or planning
… mail came chiefly from those organized groups whose opposition had already been discounted …—Time
Time
: to give or make discounts (see discount entry 1)
stores planning to discount after the holidays
dis·count
ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt
1
a
: selling goods or services for less than their regular or list price : selling goods or services at a discount (see discount entry 1 sense 1a(1))
discount stores
a discount broker
discount airlines
b
: offered or sold at a discount
discount tickets
2
: reflecting a discount
discount prices
Synonyms
Examples of discount in a Sentence
Noun
The store offers a two percent discount when customers pay in cash.
a discount of 20% from the original price
Verb
The vacation plan included a discounted price on our hotel room.
Car dealers are heavily discounting last year's unsold models.
These threats cannot be entirely discounted.
Recent Examples on the WebJon Wilner, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
As a special discount to Journal Sentinel readers, the Garskis said anyone who shows them this article will get 5% off their purchase.
—Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
Even with a steep discount, however, the treatment is out of reach for many patients in low-income countries.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
But even though the sanctions forced Venezuela to sell its oil on the black market at steep discounts, Maduro maintained his grip on power.
—John Otis, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
Adult tickets are $95, but there is a Southern California resident discount available for $75.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Similarly, the Wahlberg house and Manhattan penthouse were also acquired at substantial discounts—the Wahlberg property at a 37% discount off its $87.5 million list and the N.Y.C. place at 47% below the original ask.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
Sunny days are ahead at the most magical place on Earth — and lucky for us, the vacation kingdom is rolling out some major discounts on resort stays at seven hotels this Spring and Summer.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2024
Prices start at just $12, with discounts reaching up to 71 percent off.
—Monica Bell, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Medea Giordano, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
Some of our favorite brands are discounted, including Adidas, Skechers, and Vionic, which has consistently made it onto Oprah’s Favorite Things list.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Wayfair’s 5 Days of Deals sale lasts through April 9, but popular and deeply discounted items are flying off the virtual shelves.
—Rachel Trujillo, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Walmart, with its Every Day Low Prices approach, eschews coupons and rarely discounts anything.
—Lydia Depillis Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The Arlo Pro 4 is a fantastic solution for that, especially now that it's so heavily discounted.
—Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 5 Apr. 2024
Flights are automatically discounted on Southwest’s website or app for these travel periods and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
—Stella Shon, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2024
Related Articles Letters: Environmental concern | Community action | Bad for workers | Trump unqualified | Don’t discount fraud
Burning wood for energy pollutes more than burning coal.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Business travel has been slower to recover post-pandemic than leisure, which may mean some airlines are discounting their business class tickets to help fill the cabins.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Simone McCarthy, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
But that’s still a discount-rack price for a car that cost around $110,000 when new.
—Mike Sutton, Car and Driver, 5 May 2022
At the gate only are discount senior tickets for $8, a weekend pass for $25 and a four-to-a-car admission of $55.
—Kathy Cichon, chicagotribune.com, 28 July 2021
The stories energized widespread discussion of the lab-leak theory on social media, which quickly became meshed with theories about bioweapons research — a strain of speculation that scientists still strongly discount.
—Washington Post, 10 June 2021
Select facial cleansers, serums, and moisturizers are marked 30 percent off, including this $8 (post-discount) gem.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 9 Apr. 2021
Black Friday isn't the only discount day worth counting down to.
—Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, 7 Jan. 2020
According to BBC News’ Helen Briggs, the research doesn’t fully discount climate change’s contribution to cave bears’ extinction.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 16 Aug. 2019
And discount German grocery chain Aldi is growing rapidly in the United States.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 27 June 2019
Noun
The Huskies begin play in the Big Ten later this year after agreeing to enter the conference, along with Oregon, at a steep discount.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
As a special discount to Journal Sentinel readers, the Garskis said anyone who shows them this article will get 5% off their purchase.
—Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
Even with a steep discount, however, the treatment is out of reach for many patients in low-income countries.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
But even though the sanctions forced Venezuela to sell its oil on the black market at steep discounts, Maduro maintained his grip on power.
—John Otis, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
Adult tickets are $95, but there is a Southern California resident discount available for $75.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Similarly, the Wahlberg house and Manhattan penthouse were also acquired at substantial discounts—the Wahlberg property at a 37% discount off its $87.5 million list and the N.Y.C. place at 47% below the original ask.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
Sunny days are ahead at the most magical place on Earth — and lucky for us, the vacation kingdom is rolling out some major discounts on resort stays at seven hotels this Spring and Summer.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2024
Prices start at just $12, with discounts reaching up to 71 percent off.
—Monica Bell, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Verb
Some of our favorite tablets, headphones, and kitchen items are discounted.
—Medea Giordano, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
Some of our favorite brands are discounted, including Adidas, Skechers, and Vionic, which has consistently made it onto Oprah’s Favorite Things list.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Wayfair’s 5 Days of Deals sale lasts through April 9, but popular and deeply discounted items are flying off the virtual shelves.
—Rachel Trujillo, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Walmart, with its Every Day Low Prices approach, eschews coupons and rarely discounts anything.
—Lydia Depillis Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The Arlo Pro 4 is a fantastic solution for that, especially now that it's so heavily discounted.
—Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 5 Apr. 2024
Flights are automatically discounted on Southwest’s website or app for these travel periods and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
—Stella Shon, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2024
Related Articles Letters: Environmental concern | Community action | Bad for workers | Trump unqualified | Don’t discount fraud
Burning wood for energy pollutes more than burning coal.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Business travel has been slower to recover post-pandemic than leisure, which may mean some airlines are discounting their business class tickets to help fill the cabins.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Those ties have been buoyed by discount Russian oil purchases from China and sanctions-hit Russia’s increasing reliance on Chinese consumer goods amid its economic isolation.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024
But that’s still a discount-rack price for a car that cost around $110,000 when new.
—Mike Sutton, Car and Driver, 5 May 2022
At the gate only are discount senior tickets for $8, a weekend pass for $25 and a four-to-a-car admission of $55.
—Kathy Cichon, chicagotribune.com, 28 July 2021
The stories energized widespread discussion of the lab-leak theory on social media, which quickly became meshed with theories about bioweapons research — a strain of speculation that scientists still strongly discount.
—Washington Post, 10 June 2021
Select facial cleansers, serums, and moisturizers are marked 30 percent off, including this $8 (post-discount) gem.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 9 Apr. 2021
Black Friday isn't the only discount day worth counting down to.
—Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, 7 Jan. 2020
According to BBC News’ Helen Briggs, the research doesn’t fully discount climate change’s contribution to cave bears’ extinction.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 16 Aug. 2019
And discount German grocery chain Aldi is growing rapidly in the United States.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 27 June 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discount.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near discount
Cite this Entry
“Discount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discount. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discount
1 of 2 noun
dis·count
ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt
: an amount taken off a regular price
a ten percent discount for all employees
discount
2 of 2 verb
dis·count
ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt
dis-ˈkau̇nt
dis-ˈkau̇nt
1
a
: to lower the amount of a bill, debt, or charge
b
: to sell or offer for sale at a lowered price
2
a
: minimize sense 2b
shouldn't discount the importance of studying
b
: to believe only partly : view with doubt
discount the rumors
discountable
adjective
-ə-bəl
Legal Definition
discount
1 of 3 noun
dis·count
ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt
: a reduction made from the gross amount or value of something: as
a
: a reduction made from a regular or list price or a proportionate deduction from a debt account usually made for prompt payment or for payment in cash
b
: a reduction made for interest in advancing money upon or purchasing a note not yet due
c
: a reduction in the price of a bond see also discount bond at bond sense 2
d
: the sale of securities that are issued below and redeemed at face value compare premium sense 1
discount
2 of 3 transitive verb
dis·count
ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt, dis-ˈkau̇nt
1
a
: to make a deduction from usually for cash or prompt payment
b
: to sell or offer at a lowered price
2
: to lend money on after deducting a discount
banks discount negotiable instruments
3
: to take into account (a future event or prospect) in making present calculations
: to give or make discounts
discount
3 of 3 adjective
dis·count
ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt
1
a
: selling goods or services at a discount
a discount broker
b
: offered or sold at a discount
discount securities
2
: reflecting a discount
the discount price
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