Word
discipline
Phoneticsdis·ci·pline
US/ˈdɪsəpɫən/
UK/dˈɪsɪplˌɪn/
Definitions
01self-control
n. the ability to control your own behavior and work hard without needing others to tell you what to do.
n. the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards.
“It takes a lot of discipline to get up at 5:00 AM every day to exercise.”
“Maintaining the discipline required for professional-level athletic training demands significant mental fortitude and a strict adherence to nutritional guidelines.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to a personal quality.
Antonyms
02rules and order
n. a system of rules used to keep order in a group, like a school or the army.
n. the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, often using punishment to correct disobedience.
“The teacher struggled to maintain discipline in the noisy classroom.”
“The military relies on strict discipline to ensure that commands are followed instantly and accurately during high-pressure operations.”
Usage
Commonly used with verbs like 'maintain', 'enforce', or 'impose'.
Synonyms
03academic subject
n. a particular area of study, especially at a university.
n. a branch of knowledge, typically one studied in higher education.
“Sociology is a relatively modern academic discipline.”
“The conference brought together experts from various scientific disciplines to discuss the multifaceted impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems.”
Academic · Formal
Usage
Countable in this sense.
04to punish or correct
v. to punish someone for breaking rules so they learn to behave better in the future.
v. to punish or penalize someone for an offense or failure to follow regulations.
“The company decided to discipline the employee for being late three times in one week.”
“The regulatory body has the power to discipline members who fail to meet the established ethical standards of the profession.”
Usage
Transitive verb; always requires an object.
05to train oneself
v. to train yourself to do something in a controlled and regular way.
v. to train oneself or others to act in accordance with a particular set of rules or a specific routine.
“She disciplined herself to write at least 500 words every morning.”
“He had disciplined his mind to ignore distractions, allowing him to focus entirely on the complex mathematical proof before him.”
Formal
Real-World Examples
“To answer Drake’s third question – how many of those planets are capable of sustaining life – a new scientific discipline has emerged: astrobiology, the study of life among the stars.” “Producing an asset that can be brought into current workflows gives World Labs’ product the potential for immediate application by game developers, VFX artists, and professionals in other creative and technical disciplines.” “Relentless discipline on the training pitch as he drills his blueprint into your nervous system.” “Surely anatomy , as a discipline, must be complete?” Etymology
From Middle English [Term?], from Anglo-Norman, from Old French descipline, from Latin disciplina (“instruction”), from discipulus (“pupil”), influenced by disco (“to learn”), from Proto-Indo-European *dek- (“(cause to) accept”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Collocations
Word family
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/discipline