Meaning & use
discernment
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Meanings
noununcountableapproving
The skill of seeing what is good, true or important in a situation, especially where the difference is slight or hidden.
Grammar: Has no plural: she showed great discernment, not discernments.
Patterns
- show discernment
- discernment in something
- have the discernment to do something
She chose her friends with great discernment.
It takes discernment to tell a genuine antique from a clever copy.
The judges showed discernment in picking the winning design.
noununcountableformal
The act of noticing or making out something that is not easy to see or understand.
Grammar: Often followed by of: the discernment of a pattern.
Patterns
- discernment of something
The discernment of a faint pattern in the data took months of study.
Early discernment of the problem saved the project.
Careful discernment of tone is needed to read the old letters.
Common combinations
- good discernment
- He showed good discernment in picking advisers.
- show discernment
- Shoppers who show discernment spot poor quality quickly.
- critical discernment
- Reading the news today requires critical discernment.
- lack discernment
- Some investors lack discernment and follow every trend.
- powers of discernment
- Her powers of discernment impressed the whole panel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- judgment
- Judgment is a broad ability to decide wisely, while discernment stresses noticing fine differences before deciding.
- insight
- Insight is a deep understanding of a person or problem, whereas discernment is about telling things apart.
- perception
- Perception can be simple awareness through the senses, while discernment adds good judgment about what you perceive.
- taste
- Taste is about preferences in art or style, while discernment covers any area where quality must be judged.
Opposites
Word family
- discern verb
- to notice or make out something
- discerning adjective
- having or showing good judgment
- discernible adjective
- able to be seen or recognized
- discernibly adverb
- in a way that can be noticed
Commonly confused: discernment or discretion?
discernment vs discretion
Discretion means careful, private behavior or the freedom to decide, while discernment means seeing differences clearly.
Practice
Which phrase is closest in meaning to discernment?
Choose one answer.
Discernment is the ability to judge quality and notice fine differences, so sharp judgment fits. The other options describe temperament, luck or manner.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “discernment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.