Meaning & use

discipline

noun·Academic

Training that develops self-control, obedience, or a particular skill through practice.

See it in a sentence

Years of discipline in the gym helped her qualify for the national team.

The teacher praised the class for their discipline during the fire drill.

A note on using this word

Discipline can also mean punishment for breaking rules, so watch which sense a sentence intends.

Words with a similar meaning

self-controltrainingorder

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

A branch of academic study or field of knowledge.

Linguistics is a discipline that overlaps with psychology and computer science.

3. verb

To train someone to obey rules, or to punish them for breaking rules.

The coach disciplined the players who arrived late to practice.

Make it your own

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