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.
Synonyms
prudence, tact, restraint, circumspection
Antonyms
indiscretion, bluntness, tactlessness
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Choosing silence in a quiet room
An adult sits in a minimalist room with hands folded, choosing not to respond to a ringing phone on the desk.
The person’s deliberate, calm choice to remain silent illustrates the power of discretion. They exercise their judgment to avoid engagement, understanding the sensitivity of the moment and intentionally choosing to keep their focus private rather than responding to the external demand.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration