Discretion
noun /dɪˈskrɛʃən/ — The quality of judicious restraint in speech and action — knowing what not to say.
Definition
The power to make judgments about what to say and when to say it; the quality of behaving carefully and with sensitivity to avoid revealing information that should remain private.
Beyond the definition
Discretion is wisdom applied to communication. It is not lying — it is knowing that not everything known needs to be said. The discreet person is the one you can tell things to without wondering where they'll end up.
Origin & history
Old French 'discrecion,' from Latin 'discretio' — the act of separating, distinguishing. The same root as 'discern.' Discretion is the ability to discern what should be kept separate from the public.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She handled the information with discretion — it never went further than it needed to.
Discretion is not secrecy; it's knowing that some truths serve no one by being shared.
The best advisors have both intelligence and discretion — the second is rarer.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Discretion” when the meaning fits your context: The power to make judgments about what to say and when to say it; the quality of behaving carefully and with sensitivity to avoid revealing information that should remain private.
Synonyms
prudence, tact, restraint, circumspection
Antonyms
indiscretion, bluntness, tactlessness
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Discretion" mean?
Discretion is noun meaning: The quality of judicious restraint in speech and action — knowing what not to say.. The power to make judgments about what to say and when to say it; the quality of behaving carefully and with sensitivity to avoid revealing information that should remain private.
Where does the word "Discretion" come from?
Old French 'discrecion,' from Latin 'discretio' — the act of separating, distinguishing. The same root as 'discern.' Discretion is the ability to discern what should be kept separate from the public.