discipline

dis·ci·pline

Use discipline in a sentence

A child being disciplined.

noun

Discipline is defined as a field of study or is training to fix incorrect behavior or create better skills.
1. An example of discipline is American literature.
2. An example of discipline is a time out for a child who has just pushed his sibling.

verb

The definition of discipline is to punish someone for their behavior.
An example of discipline is to give detention to a student who keeps talking during lectures.

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MLA Style

"discipline." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DISCIPLINE>.

APA Style

discipline. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DISCIPLINE

discipline

a branch of knowledge or learning
1. training that develops self-control, character, or orderliness and efficiency
2. strict control to enforce obedience
the result of such training or control; specif.,
1. self-control or orderly conduct
2. acceptance of or submission to authority and control
a system of rules, as for a church or monastic order
treatment that corrects or punishes

Origin of discipline

Middle English from Old French descepline from Classical Latin disciplina from discipulus: see disciple

transitive verb

-·plined, -·plin·ing

to subject to discipline; train; control
to punish

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"discipline." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DISCIPLINE>.

APA Style

discipline. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DISCIPLINE

discipline

noun

Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement: was raised in the strictest discipline.
a. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order: military discipline.
b. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control: Dieting takes a lot of discipline.
c. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.
Punishment intended to correct or train: subjected to harsh discipline.
A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
A branch of knowledge or teaching: the discipline of mathematics.

transitive verb

dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing, dis·ci·plines

To train by instruction and practice, as in following rules or developing self-control: The sergeant disciplined the recruits to become soldiers. See Synonyms at teach.
To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience. See Synonyms at punish.
To impose order on: needed to discipline their study habits.

Origin of discipline

Middle English from Old French descepline from Latin disciplīna from discipulus pupil ; see disciple .

Related Forms:

dis′ci·pli·nal
adjective

dis′ci·plin′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"discipline." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DISCIPLINE>.

APA Style

discipline. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DISCIPLINE

Noun

(plural disciplines)

A controlled behaviour; self-control.
An enforced compliance or control.
A systematic method of obtaining obedience.
A state of order based on submission to authority.
A punishment to train or maintain control.
A set of rules regulating behaviour.
A flagellation as a means of obtaining sexual gratification.
A specific branch of knowledge or learning.
A category in which a certain art, sport or other activity belongs.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present disciplines, present participle disciplining, simple past and past participle disciplined)

To train someone by instruction and practice.
To teach someone to obey authority.
To punish someone in order to (re)gain control.
To impose order on someone.

Origin

From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French descipline, from Latin disciplina (“instruction”) and discipulus (“pupil”), from discere (“to learn”), from Proto-Indo-European *dek- (“(cause to) accept”).

See also: discipliné

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.