deliberation
noun
de·lib·er·a·tion
di-ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən 
1
a
: the act of thinking about or discussing something and deciding carefully : the act of deliberating
After careful deliberation, he decided to study medicine rather than law.
b
: a discussion and consideration by a group of persons (such as a jury or legislature) of the reasons for and against a measure
The jury returned a verdict after a four-hour deliberation.
2
: the quality or state of being deliberate
spoke with clarity and deliberation
worked with deliberation on the painting
Examples of deliberation in a Sentence
After hours of deliberation, the council came to a decision.
Jury deliberations lasted two days.
She spoke to the audience with clarity and deliberation.
Recent Examples on the Web
At their core, liberal democracies run on a certain kind of faith that the common good can be discovered through discussion and deliberation.
—
Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Grayson was charged with first-degree murder but an option for second-degree murder was added to jury instructions before deliberations began.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Lobbying expenditures from firms linked to the Chinese PLA have intensified as deliberations in Congress have progressed surrounding the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual piece of legislation designed to fund America’s military and deal broadly with national security matters.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2025
Courtesy Ruby Funeral Services The defense rested its case Monday, and closing arguments and jury deliberations are set to begin Tuesday.
—Selina Guevara, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deliberation
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Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Grayson was charged with first-degree murder but an option for second-degree murder was added to jury instructions before deliberations began.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Lobbying expenditures from firms linked to the Chinese PLA have intensified as deliberations in Congress have progressed surrounding the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual piece of legislation designed to fund America’s military and deal broadly with national security matters.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2025
Courtesy Ruby Funeral Services The defense rested its case Monday, and closing arguments and jury deliberations are set to begin Tuesday.
—Selina Guevara, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deliberation
Cite this Entry
“Deliberation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deliberation. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deliberation
noun
de·lib·er·a·tion
di-ˌlib-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the act of deliberating
2
: a discussion and consideration of the reasons for and against something
3
: the quality of being deliberate : deliberateness
Legal Definition
deliberation
noun
de·lib·er·a·tion
di-ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən
1
a
: the act of deliberating compare premeditation
b
: a discussion and consideration by a group of persons (as a jury or legislature) of the reasons for or against a measure
2
: the quality or state of being deliberate
killing with deliberation
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