discovery

noun dis·cov·ery \ di-ˈskə-v(ə-)rē \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: discovery in a Sentence

Definition of discovery

plural discoveries

1 a : the act or process of discovering

the discovery of a lost city

b (1) archaic : disclosure

(2) obsolete : display

c obsolete : exploration

2 : something discovered

3 : the usually pretrial disclosure of pertinent facts or documents by one or both parties to a legal action or proceeding

See discovery defined for English-language learners

See discovery defined for kids

Examples of discovery in a Sentence

Scientists announced the discovery of a new species of plant.
Her research led to a number of important discoveries about the disease.
Reporters made the shocking discovery that the governor had been unfaithful to his wife.
the discovery of pollution in the river
the discovery of a talented musician
sailors during the age of discovery
It was one of the most important discoveries in the history of medicine.

Recent Examples of discovery from the Web

The discovery prompted investigations by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

— nancy badertscher, ajc, "Juanita S. Stone, 89: Teacher, funeral director served community," 9 June 2018
In the last couple decades, new discoveries have put the ice-free corridor theory under scrutiny.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "New Evidence Shows That Humans Could Have Migrated to the Americas Along the Coast," 8 June 2018
The couple's discovery comes just three weeks after town officials in the popular Outer Banks community of Duck put out a warning that a bear had taken a liking to its beach.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "Couple saw a dog struggling in a SC river. It was actually something much larger," 8 June 2018
Both discoveries emerged from Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, a miniaturized chemistry lab and oven that roasts dollops of air, rock and soil to sniff out each sample’s constituent molecules.

— adam mann, Scientific American, "Curiosity Rover Uncovers Long-Sought Organic Materials on Martian Surface," 7 June 2018
However, after since posting about the grim discovery on social media, McDonald's has been in touch with Waller and promised to investigate.

— tom kershaw, Fox News, "McDonald's customer claims she found dead mouse in McChicken," 7 June 2018
The discovery could give a boost to future Mars exploration plans.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "NASA rover hits organic pay dirt on Mars," 7 June 2018
The long gap between scientific discoveries and successful drug development isn’t unique to gene therapy.

— fred d. ledley, STAT, "30 years is too long to wait for new medicines. There are ways to speed up drug development," 6 June 2018
More information about Curiosity's discoveries can be found here.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "NASA's Mars Curiosity rover makes new discovery, details coming Thursday afternoon," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discovery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of discovery

1529

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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discovery Synonyms

DISCOVERY Defined for English Language Learners

discovery

noun

Definition of discovery for English Language Learners

: the act of finding or learning something for the first time : the act of discovering something
: something seen or learned for the first time : something discovered

DISCOVERY Defined for Kids

discovery

noun dis·cov·ery \ di-ˈskəv-ə-rē , -ˈskəv-rē \

Definition of discovery for Students

plural discoveries

1 : an act of finding out or learning of for the first time

Experiments led to their discovery of the cure.

2 : something found or learned of for the first time

a recent discovery

Law Dictionary

discovery

noun dis·cov·ery

legal Definition of discovery

plural discoveries

1 : the act or process of discovering

2 : something discovered

applied for a patent for the discovery

3 a : the methods used by parties to a civil or criminal action to obtain information held by the other party that is relevant to the action — see also deposition, interrogatory, request for production

b : the disclosure of information held by the opposing party in an action

a party need not provide discovery of electronically stored information…not reasonably accessible
—Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 26(b)(2)(B)

— see also privilege, work product doctrine

Note: Discovery allowed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26 is far-reaching. With some exceptions, a party may obtain discovery of any relevant information as long as it is not privileged, including information that itself would not be admissible at trial but that is likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Criminal discovery, however, has been more controversial. Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16, a defendant may obtain discovery of his or her own written or recorded statements or confessions, results of examinations and tests, his or her recorded testimony before a grand jury, and testimony to be given by the prosecution's expert witnesses. A defendant may also inspect the prosecution's books, documents, photographs, objects, and other items of evidence. Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12.1, the prosecution must also disclose the names of witnesses that will be called to rebut the defendant's alibi defense. The defendant must also permit the prosecution to inspect books, documents, photographs, and objects and must disclose reports of examinations or tests and testimony of expert witnesses.