discount

1 of 3

noun

dis·​count ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt 

1

: a reduction made from the gross (see gross entry 1 sense 3b) amount or value of something: such as

a(1)

: a reduction made from a regular or list price

offering customers a ten percent discount

buy tickets at a discount

(2)

: a proportionate deduction from a debt account usually made for cash or prompt payment

b

: a deduction made for interest in advancing money upon or purchasing a bill or note not due

2

: the act or practice of discounting (see discount entry 2)

3

: a deduction taken or allowance made

… we may … have to make very heavy discount, or even sometimes to reject our author's conclusions altogether.

—G. G. Coulton

discount

2 of 3

verb

dis·​count ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt  di-ˈskau̇nt 

discounted; discounting; discounts

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a deduction (see deduction sense 1a) from usually for cash or prompt payment

a discounted price

b

: to sell or offer for sale at a discount (see discount entry 1 sense 1)

discounting last year's model

2

: to lend money on after deducting the discount

3

a

: to leave out of account or consideration : disregard

discount the possibility that the situation may worsen

its effect cannot be entirely discounted

b

: to minimize the importance of

shouldn't discount his contributions

c(1)

: to make allowance (see allowance entry 1 sense 2) for bias or exaggeration in

discount most of their claims

(2)

: to view with doubt

discount a rumor

d

: to anticipate or take into account (something, such as a future event) in present calculations or planning

… mail came chiefly from those organized groups whose opposition had already been discounted …

—Time

intransitive verb

: to give or make discounts (see discount entry 1)

stores planning to discount after the holidays

discounter

ˈdi-ˌskau̇n-tər 

di-ˈskau̇n-

noun

discount

3 of 3

adjective

dis·​count ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt 

1

a

: selling goods or services for less than their regular or list price : selling goods or services at a discount (see discount entry 1 sense 1a(1))

discount stores

a discount broker

discount airlines

b

: offered or sold at a discount

discount tickets

2

: reflecting a discount

discount prices

Synonyms

Noun

• abatement
• deduction
• reduction

Verb

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• condone
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• paper over
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• shrug off
• whitewash
• wink (at)

Examples of discount in a Sentence

Noun

The store offers a two percent discount when customers pay in cash.

a discount of 20% from the original price

Verb

The vacation plan included a discounted price on our hotel room.

Car dealers are heavily discounting last year's unsold models.

These threats cannot be entirely discounted.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Use countdown timers and exclusive discounts to motivate procrastinators. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Patrons get early Black Friday deal access, free delivery, free shipping, fuel discounts and more. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024

Verb

Some credit cards, like American Express, offer free or discounted Clear Plus memberships. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024

At many places, offers are for a free or discounted meal. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Norse Atlantic Airways, a discount European airline, recently revealed dozens of flight deals on flights from the United States to Europe throughout the rest of 2024 and early 2025 as part of a September Sale. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2024

Those ties have been buoyed by discount Russian oil purchases from China and sanctions-hit Russia’s increasing reliance on Chinese consumer goods amid its economic isolation. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

modification of French décompter, from Old French desconter, from Medieval Latin discomputare, from Latin dis- + computare to count — more at count

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1621, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing discount

• at a discount
• bank discount
• cash discount
• discount rate
• trade discount

Kids Definition

discount

1 of 2 noun

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt 

: an amount taken off a regular price

a ten percent discount for all employees

discount

2 of 2 verb

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt  dis-ˈkau̇nt 

1

a

: to lower the amount of a bill, debt, or charge

b

: to sell or offer for sale at a lowered price

2

a

: minimize sense 2b

shouldn't discount the importance of studying

b

: to believe only partly : view with doubt

discount the rumors

discountable

-ə-bəl

adjective

Legal Definition

discount

1 of 3 noun

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt 

: a reduction made from the gross amount or value of something: as

a

: a reduction made from a regular or list price or a proportionate deduction from a debt account usually made for prompt payment or for payment in cash

b

: a reduction made for interest in advancing money upon or purchasing a note not yet due

c

: a reduction in the price of a bond see also discount bond at bond sense 2

d

: the sale of securities that are issued below and redeemed at face value compare premium sense 1

discount

2 of 3 transitive verb

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt, dis-ˈkau̇nt 

1

a

: to make a deduction from usually for cash or prompt payment

b

: to sell or offer at a lowered price

2

: to lend money on after deducting a discount

banks discount negotiable instruments

3

: to take into account (a future event or prospect) in making present calculations

intransitive verb

: to give or make discounts

discount

3 of 3 adjective

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt 

1

a

: selling goods or services at a discount

a discount broker

b

: offered or sold at a discount

discount securities

2

: reflecting a discount

the discount price