Dictionary

discretion en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /dɪˈskɹɛʃən/

Etymology

From Middle English discrecioun, from Old French discretion, from Late Latin discrētiō, from Latin discerno. Equivalent to discreet + -ion.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The quality of being discreet.
   • Bob showed great discretion despite his knowledge of the affair.
2. (uncountable, usually) The ability to make wise choices or decisions.
   • With regard to a woman, at nine years of age, she was, if married, considered entitled to her dower; at twelve, she may consent to marriage; at fourteen, she is at years of discretion, and may choose a guardian; […] 1838, Thomas Edlyne Tomlins, A Popular Law-Dictionary:
3. (uncountable, usually) The freedom to make one's own judgements.
   • I leave that to your discretion.
4. (uncountable, usually) The freedom to make one's own judgements. ▸ The authority to exercise one's own judgement in making decisions that have effect.
   • The police came and searched us at their discretion because we were shouting at each other's faces.

Forms

Antonyms

indiscretion

Deriveds

discretionary · discretional · discretion is the better part of valour · abuse of discretion · age of discretion · discretionless · surrender at discretion

Translations (80)

ota ادراك (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · bg дискретност (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ru свобо́да де́йствий (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · cs soudnost (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · ru прозорли́вость (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · bg преценка (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · fi hienovaraisuus (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ru осмотри́тельность (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · vi cẩn thận (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · de Takt (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · el διακριτικότητα (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · uk обережність (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · de Diskretion (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · hi विवेक (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · es discreción (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · uk розважливість (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · it discrezione (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · cy pwyll (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · kk абайлаушылық (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · he שיקול דעת (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · el εχεμύθεια (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · de Ermessen (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · pl dowolność (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · ga críonnacht (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · vi cẩn trọng (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ota عقل (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · cmn 謹慎 /谨慎 (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · fi oma harkinta (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · it discernimento (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · cs uvážlivost (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · cs možnost uvážení (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · de Unaufdringlichkeit (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ml വിവേകം (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · cs možnost se rozhodnout (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · fr discrétion (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · de Angemessenheit (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · cy pwyll (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · pt critério (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · ml വിവേകം (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · uk розсуд (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · bg благоразумие (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · pl dyskrecja (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · de Verschwiegenheit (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ro libertate de decizie (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · de Gutdünken (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · pt discrição (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ro discreție (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · bg усмотрение (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · ca discreció (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ota هوش (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · el διάκριση (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · sv omdöme (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · el σύνεση (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · cs diskrétnost (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · fi hienotunteisuus (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · no diskresjon (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ca discreció (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · sv diskretion (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · hy հայեցողություն (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · fa صلاحدید (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · ka კეთილგონიერება (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · fi tilannetaju (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · el διακριτική ευχέρεια (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · de Umsicht (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · fi tahdikkuus (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · hi विवेक (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · nl discretie (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · ro rezervă (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · eo diskreteco (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · cs ohleduplnost (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · uk обачність (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · fr discrétion (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · de Klugheit (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · ru усмотре́ние (the freedom to make one's own judgements) · el περίσκεψη (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · ro maturitate (de gândire) (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · vi thận trọng (the quality of being discreet or circumspect) · fr discernement (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · fi harkintakyky (the ability to make wise choices or decisions) · it riservatezza (the quality of being discreet or circumspect)