Discretion Definition
dĭ-skrĕshən
noun
The quality of being discreet, or careful about what one does and says; prudence.
Webster's New World
The freedom or authority to make decisions and choices; power to judge or act.
Webster's New World
The ability or power to discern what is responsible or socially appropriate.
American Heritage
The action or power of discerning; judgment.
Webster's New World
The freedom of choice and of action of a judge, prosecutor, or other public official, within the defined scope of his or her responsibilities. For example, in a criminal matter a judge may have wide discretion to release the defendant on recognizance or to demand bail in any amount, based on the judge’s view of the defendant as a flight risk.
Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Discretion
Noun
Singular:
discretionPlural:
discretionsIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Discretion
- at one's discretion
Origin of Discretion
From Old French discrecion, from Late Latin discretio
From Wiktionary
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