discipline

discipline — noun

1. A system of training that teaches people to follow rules and control their behav

1.nounB2
Definition

A system of training that teaches people to follow rules and control their behaviour, usually by using rewards when they obey and punishments when they break the rules.

Example

Naoko's parents believe that discipline at home helps children learn right from wrong.

collocation: discipline at home

The school has a strict discipline policy that students must follow.

collocation: strict discipline policy

Common collocations
  • strict discipline
  • good discipline
  • proper discipline
  • maintain discipline
  • enforce discipline
  • discipline policy
  • classroom discipline
  • military discipline
Synonyms
  • training

    Focuses on instruction and practice; more neutral than 'discipline', which implies rule-following and consequences

  • regulation

    Emphasises formal rules and control; less about personal development than 'discipline'

  • order

    Describes the resulting state of control, not the system of training itself

Antonyms
  • chaos

    Complete disorder and lack of control, the opposite of what discipline produces

Usage Note

Often described with adjectives such as 'good', 'strict', 'proper', or 'poor'. Common in educational, military, parenting, and workplace contexts.

2. The power to manage your own emotions and choices, particularly when you face di

2.nounB1
Definition

The power to manage your own emotions and choices, particularly when you face difficulty or feel tempted to do something you should not do.

Example

Zayd showed great discipline by finishing his homework before playing video games.

collocation: show discipline

Saving money instead of spending it on things you want takes real discipline.

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Common collocations
  • show discipline
  • take discipline
  • require discipline
  • mental discipline
  • personal discipline
  • lack of discipline
Synonyms
  • self-control

    Nearly identical; 'self-control' emphasises restraint of impulses, while 'discipline' suggests a trained habit

  • restraint

    Often passive — holding back from doing something; 'discipline' is more active and ongoing

  • willpower

    Focuses on mental strength to resist temptation; 'discipline' also covers consistent routines and habits

  • composure

    Refers to keeping calm under pressure; narrower in scope than 'discipline'

Antonyms
  • indulgence

    Giving in to desires without restraint, the opposite of disciplined self-control

Usage Note

Common with verbs such as 'show', 'have', 'require', 'take' (as in 'takes discipline'). Unlike sense 1, this sense describes an inner quality of self-regulation rather than an external system of rules.

Common Mistakes

My parents gave me discipline when I came home late.
My parents disciplined me when I came home late.
'give discipline' does not work for punishment; use the verb 'discipline' or rephrase as 'imposed discipline' for sense 1.

3. A recognised branch of knowledge that scholars study and investigate, usually of

3.nounB2
Definition

A recognised branch of knowledge that scholars study and investigate, usually offered as a subject in a university or other higher education setting.

Example

Élise chose to study psychology because it was the discipline that interested her most.

Biology is a broad discipline that covers everything from cells to entire ecosystems.

Common collocations
  • academic discipline
  • scientific discipline
  • cross disciplines
  • field of discipline
Synonyms
  • field

    Slightly less formal than 'discipline'; used in both academic and professional contexts

  • subject

    Common in school contexts; 'discipline' implies a more formal, research-oriented area of study

  • branch

    Often refers to a sub-area within a larger discipline, e.g. 'a branch of medicine'

Usage Note

Used primarily in academic and research contexts. 'Discipline' is broader than 'subject' — a discipline is a recognised field with established research traditions and departments. Often paired with 'academic'.

discipline — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words relate to managing one's own behaviour, but they differ in scope and situation. 'Discipline' (noun sense 2) is the broadest: it describes a trained habit of self-regulation that applies across many areas of life, from work routines to emotional responses. 'Self-control' is the closest synonym, focusing specifically on resisting impulses — for example, avoiding junk food or staying calm during an argument. 'Restraint' leans towards deliberate withholding: you exercise restraint when you stop yourself from saying something hurtful. 'Willpower' is the mental energy or determination to overcome temptation; it is more situational and effort-based than the steady habit implied by 'discipline'. 'Composure' is the narrowest, referring only to emotional calm in stressful moments. In practice, a disciplined person draws on willpower for difficult moments, uses restraint in social situations, and maintains composure under pressure.

self-control ↗restraint ↗willpowercomposure

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • act of discipline
  • sense of discipline
  • matter of discipline

Prepositions

  • discipline in + place/area
  • discipline about + topic

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'discipline' comes from the Latin 'disciplina', meaning 'teaching, learning, or instruction'. This noun was formed from 'discipulus', meaning 'student' or 'pupil'. It entered English through Old French 'descipline' in the 13th century, originally carrying the sense of education and knowledge. By the late 14th century, the meaning had expanded to include 'a system of rules for controlling behaviour'. The sense of 'a field of study' appeared around the same period. The verb forms developed later, first meaning 'to instruct or train' and then narrowing to 'to punish as a way of teaching correct behaviour'.