discovery

discovery — noun

1. the act of finding something new or unknown; also, the thing or person you find

1.nounB1
Definition

the act of finding something new or unknown; also, the thing or person you find in this way

Example

The discovery of penicillin changed the history of medicine forever.

discovery + of [important thing]

Eve made an exciting discovery in her grandmother's attic last weekend.

Common collocations
  • make a discovery
  • scientific discovery
  • unexpected discovery
  • amazing discovery
  • discovery that...
  • lead to a discovery
Synonyms
  • finding

    more general, can refer to anything found; less dramatic than discovery

  • breakthrough

    a major, usually scientific discovery that leads to new knowledge (B2)

  • revelation

    focuses on information being made known, often something surprising or secret

  • uncovering

    suggests something was hidden or buried and is now brought to light

Antonyms
  • loss

    when something known or possessed is no longer available

Grammar Patterns

discovery + of + noun

discovery + that-clause

make + a + discovery

possessive + discovery

Usage Note

Countable when naming the thing found (a discovery, two discoveries); uncountable when describing the process (the discovery of fire). Often paired with the verb make.

Common Mistakes

She made a discovery of her phone under the sofa.
She found her phone under the sofa.
Discovery usually refers to finding something unknown or significant, not just locating a lost object.

2. in a court case, the stage before the trial during which each side must share do

2.nounC1
Definition

in a court case, the stage before the trial during which each side must share documents and information with the other side

Example

The judge ordered both sides to complete the discovery process within thirty days.

discovery process — fixed legal phrase for pre-trial exchange

During discovery, Isabela's legal team received thousands of pages from the other side.

Common collocations
  • discovery process
  • discovery request
  • discovery period
  • during discovery
  • complete discovery
  • discovery deadline
Synonyms
  • disclosure

    the British English term for the same legal process; also used in American legal contexts

Grammar Patterns

discovery + process

discovery + request

during + discovery

complete + discovery

Usage Note

Typically uncountable. Applies in both civil and criminal litigation in the American legal system. In Britain, similar procedures are called disclosure.

Common Mistakes

The lawyer requested a discovery of the truth.
The lawyer submitted a discovery request for the relevant documents.
Legal discovery specifically refers to sharing documents before trial, not the general act of finding out facts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Finding is the most general of these words — anything that is found, whether ordinary or remarkable, can be called a finding. Discovery adds the idea that what was found was previously unknown or hidden, and it often carries a sense of importance. Breakthrough refers specifically to a discovery that represents a major advance, especially in science, medicine, or technology. Revelation focuses on information that was secret or surprising being brought to light, often in personal or historical contexts. Uncovering suggests literally or figuratively removing a cover to reveal what was underneath. For example, 'The archaeologist's finding of old pottery' sounds routine; 'The discovery of a new species' sounds significant; 'A breakthrough in battery technology' marks a big step forward; 'The revelation that the company had hidden its losses' is about exposing a secret.

finding ↗breakthrough ↗revelation ↗uncovering

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make a discovery
  • come to a discovery
  • lead to a discovery
  • result in a discovery

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinAnglo-Norman FrenchEnglish

Discovery comes from the Latin word discooperire, which means 'to uncover'. The prefix dis- reverses the action, and cooperire means 'to cover' — so the original idea was to take a cover off and reveal what was hidden. The word entered English through Anglo-Norman French (descovrir) in the 1300s, first meaning 'to reveal or expose'. The sense of finding something new and unknown developed by the 1500s. The legal meaning, in which lawyers reveal documents to each other before trial, appeared in American English in the mid-1900s.