DISCRETION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does discretion mean? 

• DISCRETION (noun)
  The noun DISCRETION has 5 senses:

1. freedom to act or judge on one's own

2. knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress

3. refined taste; tact

4. the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies

5. the trait of judging wisely and objectively

  Familiarity information: DISCRETION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISCRETION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Freedom to act or judge on one's own

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("discretion" is a kind of...):

liberty (freedom of choice)

Derivation:

discretionary (having or using the ability to act or decide according to your own discretion or judgment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

circumspection; discreetness; discretion; prudence

Context example:

the servants showed great tact and discretion

Hypernyms ("discretion" is a kind of...):

discernment; judgement; judgment; sagaciousness; sagacity (the mental ability to understand and discriminate between relations)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discretion"):

confidentiality (discretion in keeping secret information)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Refined taste; tact

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

delicacy; discretion

Hypernyms ("discretion" is a kind of...):

appreciation; discernment; perceptiveness; taste (delicate discrimination (especially of aesthetic values))

Sense 4

Meaning:

The power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

discretion; free will

Hypernyms ("discretion" is a kind of...):

power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discretion"):

self-determination (determination of one's own fate or course of action without compulsion)

Derivation:

discretionary (having or using the ability to act or decide according to your own discretion or judgment)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The trait of judging wisely and objectively

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

discernment; discretion

Context example:

a man of discernment

Hypernyms ("discretion" is a kind of...):

wisdom; wiseness (the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discretion"):

caution; circumspection (the trait of being circumspect and prudent)

prudence (discretion in practical affairs)

 Context examples 

He assumed an expression of gloomy intelligence (though I am persuaded he knew no more about the discussion than I did), and highly approved of the discretion that had been observed.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He came on with me to Hillingham, and found that, by Lucy's discretion, her mother was lunching out, so that we were alone with her.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Seeing Meg's usually gentle temper was roused and her pride hurt by this mischievous joke, Mrs. March soothed her by promises of entire silence and great discretion for the future.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them ill.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I speak freely, and I leave the use of my material to your own discretion, Mr. McArdle, since it is through your hands that this report must pass before it reaches the world.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You have acted with great discretion.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I trust very much to your judgment and discretion, and I know that you will advise me for the best.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A DMF is submitted solely at the discretion of the holder.

(Drug Master File, Food and Drug Administration)

My participation in some of his adventures was always a privilege which entailed discretion and reticence upon me.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)