ENGLISH
REFERENCE

disciplinary

adj. · n.
US //ˈdɪsəpɫəˌnɛɹi// UK //dˈɪsɪplˌɪnəɹi// dis·ci·plinary
  1. 1 related to rules and punishment (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    related to the rules of a workplace or school and the punishment for breaking them.

    relating to the enforcement of order and the procedures used to address misconduct in a professional or institutional setting.

    Example

    The company started a disciplinary process after he was late for the third time.

    Example

    The human resources department initiated formal disciplinary proceedings following several documented instances of professional misconduct.

    Usage

    Commonly modifies nouns like 'action', 'hearing', 'procedure', or 'measure'.
  2. 2 related to a field of study (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    related to a specific subject or branch of knowledge, especially in a university.

    pertaining to a particular branch of knowledge or academic field.

    Example

    The professor has deep disciplinary knowledge in the field of chemistry.

    Example

    The research project required a high degree of disciplinary expertise to ensure the methodology met the standards of the physics department.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is most common in university settings; in general conversation, 'disciplinary' almost always refers to punishment.
  3. 3 a punishment or hearing (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a formal meeting or action taken when someone breaks the rules at work.

    an instance of disciplinary action or a formal hearing regarding professional conduct.

    Example

    He had to attend a disciplinary because of his poor performance.

    Example

    The union representative accompanied the employee to the disciplinary to ensure all company protocols were strictly followed.
Origin

From Medieval Latin disciplinarius, from Latin disciplina (“instruction, teaching, field of study, habit”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Last updated June 20, 2026