discretion
English · Thesaurus
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discretion
- /dɪˈskɹɛʃən/
Where it comes from
From Middle English discrecioun, from Old French discretion, from Late Latin discrētiō, from Latin discerno. Equivalent to discreet + -ion.
noun discretions
- The quality of being discreet. Bob showed great discretion despite his knowledge of the affair.
- 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; […]
- The freedom to make one's own judgements. I leave that to your discretion.
- 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.
Opposite: indiscretion
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: discernment, prudence, circumspection, free will, discreetness, delicacy, discretionary, insight, prudent, possibility, volition, choice, consideration, option, decision, caution
noun
Opposite: indiscretion
Translations
Every language
noun the freedom to make one's own judgements
| Português | critério |
|---|---|
| Français | discrétion |
| Deutsch | Ermessen, Gutdünken |
| Ελληνικά | διακριτική ευχέρεια diakritikí efchéreia, διάκριση diákrisi |
| Română | libertate de decizie |
| Русский | свобо́да де́йствий svobóda déjstvij, усмотре́ние usmotrénije |
noun the quality of being discreet or circumspect
| Español | discreción |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 謹慎 /谨慎 jǐnshèn |
| हिन्दी | विवेक vivek |
| Português | discrição |
| Français | discrétion |
| Deutsch | Diskretion, Takt, Verschwiegenheit, Angemessenheit, Unaufdringlichkeit |
| Italiano | discrezione, riservatezza |
| Ελληνικά | διακριτικότητα diakritikótita, εχεμύθεια echemýtheia |
| Română | discreție, rezervă |
| Русский | осмотри́тельность osmotrítelʹnostʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | cẩn thận, cẩn trọng, thận trọng |
noun the ability to make wise choices or decisions
| हिन्दी | विवेक vivek |
|---|---|
| Français | discernement |
| Deutsch | Klugheit, Umsicht |
| Italiano | discernimento |
| Ελληνικά | σύνεση sýnesi, περίσκεψη perískepsi |
| Română | maturitate (de gândire) |
| Русский | прозорли́вость prozorlívostʹ |
| עברית | שיקול דעת shikúl dá'at |
Talk about this word "discretion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/discretion. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. discretion. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/discretion "discretion." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/discretion.Cite this
@misc{discretion_2026,
title = {discretion},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/discretion},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
