discretion

discretion — noun

1. the quality of carefully choosing how to speak and act when dealing with sensiti

1.nounB2
Definition

the quality of carefully choosing how to speak and act when dealing with sensitive matters, so that you do not embarrass others or reveal private information

Example

Isabela handled the awkward question about her colleague's departure with great discretion.

collocation: 'with discretion' for careful behaviour

The therapist assured Sayaka that everything she said would be treated with the strictest discretion.

passive: 'treated with discretion'

Common collocations
  • with discretion
  • treat with discretion
  • handle with discretion
  • rely on someone's discretion
  • a matter of discretion
Synonyms
  • tact

    focuses on saying the right thing to avoid hurting feelings; discretion adds secrecy

  • prudence

    emphasises careful long-term thinking; discretion focuses on immediate social sensitivity

  • circumspection

    more formal and suggests cautiousness in all actions, not just speech

  • caution

    broader — avoids risk or danger; discretion adds secrecy and social awareness

Antonyms
  • indiscretion

    the direct opposite: behaviour that embarrasses or reveals secrets

  • recklessness

    acting without thought for consequences, including social ones

Grammar Patterns

with discretion

treat/handle something with discretion

Usage Note

Often used in the pattern 'with discretion', meaning 'carefully and without drawing attention'. The related adjective is discreet (not discrete, which means 'separate and distinct').

Common Mistakes

Please be discrete about the surprise party.
Please be discreet about the surprise party.
'discreet' means careful/tactful; 'discrete' means separate and distinct.
She showed a discretion that impressed everyone.
She showed discretion that impressed everyone.
'discretion' is uncountable and rarely used with the indefinite article in this sense.

2. the right or power to choose what to do or decide what is best when a choice is

2.nounB2
Definition

the right or power to choose what to do or decide what is best when a choice is needed, using your own judgment rather than following fixed rules

Example

The school principal has full discretion to decide how to spend the activity budget.

pattern: 'have full discretion to [verb]'

Whether to offer a refund is entirely at the manager's discretion.

pattern: 'at [someone's] discretion'

Common collocations
  • at [one's] discretion
  • full discretion
  • sole discretion
  • wide discretion
  • leave something to [someone's] discretion
  • have discretion to
  • exercise discretion
  • within [one's] discretion
Synonyms
  • judgment

    focuses on the thinking process; discretion emphasises the freedom to use that judgment

  • choice

    simpler and more general; discretion implies authority and responsibility behind the choice

  • authority

    includes the power to command others; discretion is more about individual decision-making

  • latitude

    suggests a flexible range within limits; discretion is the freedom to decide within those limits

Antonyms
  • obligation

    no freedom to choose — you must act in a fixed way

  • compulsion

    being forced to act, not having a choice

Grammar Patterns

at [one's] discretion

have discretion to [verb]

within [one's] discretion

Usage Note

Common in formal and institutional contexts. The phrase 'at your discretion' means 'as you decide'. Unlike sense 1, this sense often appears with possessives ('the committee's discretion') and modifiers ('full discretion', 'sole discretion'). Frequently used in legal, administrative, and workplace language.

Common Mistakes

The judge acted outside his discretions.
The judge acted outside his discretion.
'discretion' is uncountable; do not add a plural -s.
We leave it at your discretion to decide the colour.
We leave the choice of colour to your discretion.
'at your discretion' already implies decision-making; avoid redundancy with 'to decide'.
Idioms

at somebody’s discretion

idiom

Something done based on someone's decision or choice.

The teacher let us choose our seats at her discretion.

The manager said the bonus amount is at his discretion.

discretion is the better part of valour

idiom

It is better to be careful and avoid unnecessary risks than to be brave and get hurt.

When the bully approached, Maya remembered that discretion is the better part of valour.

He decided not to argue with his boss, knowing discretion is the better part of valour.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe careful or wise behaviour, but they differ in focus. Discretion emphasises keeping information private and avoiding social embarrassment — it is what you show when you do not mention a sensitive topic in public. Prudence is more about long-term caution and sensible planning, such as saving money for emergencies rather than spending it all at once. Tact focuses specifically on saying the right thing to avoid hurting someone's feelings — for example, gently declining a dinner invitation without giving an offensive reason. Discernment is the ability to judge quality or recognise subtle differences, such as telling a genuine antique from a clever replica. In many situations discretion and tact overlap: declining a question with a polite change of subject uses both.

discretion ↗prudencetactdiscernment

Common collocations

Phrases

  • use (your) discretion
  • leave something to someone's discretion
  • at someone's discretion

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'discernere' (to separate, to distinguish) via Old French 'discretion'. The original idea was the ability to separate or distinguish things mentally — that is, to make sound judgments. Over time the meaning split into two branches: the quality of keeping information separate from those who should not know it (sense 1), and the freedom to decide between different options (sense 2).