discretion

noun

dis·​cre·​tion di-ˈskre-shən 

1

a

: individual choice or judgment

left the decision to his discretion

b

: power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain legal bounds

reached the age of discretion

2

: the quality of having or showing discernment or good judgment : the quality of being discreet : circumspection

especially : cautious reserve in speech

3

: ability to make responsible decisions

4

: the result of separating or distinguishing

Synonyms

• common sense
• discreetness
• gumption [chiefly dialect]
• horse sense
• levelheadedness
• nous [chiefly British]
• policy
• prudence
• sense
• sensibleness
• wisdom
• wit

Examples of discretion in a Sentence

Though it is worth noting that to live in a place where other people come just for pleasure has the odd effect of making me feel transient, while the visitors seem more fixed and permanent in their lives, coming as they do from more conventional homes far away. It is as if I am always waiting for them and am here at their discretion. —Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008

In Texas "capital" murder doesn't necessarily mean a death-penalty case; it's the designation for any aggravated murder, and prosecutors have full discretion in deciding whether to seek death in such cases. —John Cloud, Time, 14 July 2003

Del Monte was a courtier, bureaucrat, diplomat and politician born and bred and he understood the need for discretion. —Peter Robb, The Man Who Became Caravaggio, (1998) 1999

Each artist in the gallery has discretion over the price that will be charged for his or her work.

The coach used his own discretion to let the injured quarterback play.

He always uses care and discretion when dealing with others.

She handled the awkward situation with great discretion.

Recent Examples on the Web

About three minutes after the pilot was told to descend to 4,000 feet at his discretion, the autopilot disengaged at 99 knots, then dropped within seconds to 70 knots and was at about 3,100 feet, the report says. —CBS News, 20 Mar. 2025

Government lawyers argue that military officials have broad discretion to decide how to assign and deploy servicemembers without judicial interference. —arkansasonline.com, 19 Mar. 2025

The chief judge noted that, at the time of the founding, minors generally could not purchase guns because they were deemed to lack the judgment and discretion to enter contracts and that minors were subject to the power of their parents. —Dara Kam, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025

Ali said that while the administration had to spend funds Congress appropriated, the State Department has discretion about how to do so. —Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English discrecioun "rational perception, moral discernment, good judgment," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French discreciun, descrecion, borrowed from Late Latin discrētiōn-, discrētiō "separation, act or power of distinguishing, caution, prudence," going back to Latin, "division, discrimination," from discrē-, variant stem of discernere "to separate, distinguish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at discern

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing discretion

• at (someone's) discretion
• at the discretion of (someone)
• discretion is the better part of valor
• leave to the discretion of
• parental discretion
• the soul of discretion

Rhymes for discretion

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression
• possession

Kids Definition

discretion

noun

dis·​cre·​tion dis-ˈkresh-ən 

1

: the quality of being discreet : prudence

2

a

: individual choice or judgment

left the decision to your discretion

b

: power of free decision

reached the age of discretion

discretionary

-ˈkresh-ə-ˌner-ē

adjective

Legal Definition

discretion

noun

dis·​cre·​tion dis-ˈkre-shən 

: power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain bounds imposed by law

reached the age of discretion

struck down death penalty provisions administered through unbridled jury discretion

—L. H. Tribe

: as

a

: the power of a judge to use his or her own judgment in making decisions guided by what is fair and equitable and by principles of law see also abuse of discretion

b

: the power of a public official or employee to act and make decisions based on his or her own judgment or conscience within the bounds of reason and the law