Word
indiscretion
Phoneticsin·dis·cre·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɛʃən/
UK/ˌɪndɪskɹˈɛʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a careless thing you say or do that shows poor judgment, especially sharing something private you should keep secret.
n. a careless remark, decision, or behaviour showing poor judgment or disregard for privacy or social norms. Often implies a minor lapse rather than a serious offence, frequently involving disclosure of confidential information.
Examples
“She regrets that small indiscretion at the party.”
“The assistant's indiscretion about the merger talks spreads quickly through the office.”
“His youthful indiscretion, though long forgiven by his colleagues, still surfaces whenever questions of trust and promotion arise.”
Examples
simple
“She regrets that small indiscretion at the party.”
contextual
“The assistant's indiscretion about the merger talks spreads quickly through the office.”
complex
“His youthful indiscretion, though long forgiven by his colleagues, still surfaces whenever questions of trust and promotion arise.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “indiscretion” in context.
Verb
01. apologize for indiscretion
“The minister publicly apologized for his indiscretion at the press conference.”
verb + prep + noun
02. commit indiscretion
“She feared she had committed a serious indiscretion by forwarding the email.”
verb + noun
03. forgive indiscretion
“Her husband eventually forgave her indiscretion and they stayed together.”
verb + noun
04. indiscretion costs
“In politics, a single indiscretion can cost you an entire career.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. minor indiscretion
“The palace dismissed the story as a minor indiscretion unworthy of comment.”
adj + noun
06. momentary indiscretion
“He blamed his outburst on a momentary indiscretion, not genuine disrespect.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. act of indiscretion
“Sharing the photo was an act of indiscretion he would later regret.”
noun + prep + noun
08. moment of indiscretion
“In a moment of indiscretion, she mentioned her colleague's salary.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a moment of indiscretion
“He blamed the leak on a moment of indiscretion after too much wine.”
10. commit a minor indiscretion
“He committed a minor indiscretion by gossiping about his boss at lunch.”
11. forgive a past indiscretion
“Voters will often forgive a past indiscretion if the apology is sincere.”
12. overlook a youthful indiscretion
“Employers will usually overlook a youthful indiscretion on an old record.”
Real-World Examples
“The lesson from this case is not that employers should overlook offensive behaviour or that employees deserve immunity for youthful indiscretions.” “Volpato’s off-field indiscretion attracted headlines in Australia and in Italy, where he plays in Serie A.” “The 41-year-old director of Stewart's film, "Snow White and the Huntsman," also issued a statement on Wednesday saying he was "utterly distraught" over the pain he has caused to his wife and children following his indiscretion with the 22-year-old actress that made headlines around the world.” “Italian magazines, often full of stories of the social and sexual indiscretions of the rich and famous, must stop spreading gossip that is not strictly in the public interest, Italy's privacy regulator ruled on Friday.” Etymology
From Old French, from Late Latin indiscrētiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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