discussion

discussion — noun

1. an event or activity where two or more people share their thoughts, ideas, or op

1.nounA2
Definition

an event or activity where two or more people share their thoughts, ideas, or opinions about a particular topic, often with the aim of reaching a better understanding or agreement

Example

After the team meeting, Eve and Paloma had a lively discussion about the marketing strategy.

collocation: have a discussion / lively discussion

The class discussion on renewable energy helped the students grasp the key issues.

Common collocations
  • have a discussion
  • hold a discussion
  • join a discussion
  • lively discussion
  • heated discussion
  • open discussion
  • group discussion
  • class discussion
  • spark a discussion
  • lead a discussion
Synonyms
  • conversation

    more casual and less structured; often used for informal chats rather than purposeful exchanges

  • debate

    more formal and structured, with opposing sides arguing for different positions

  • dialogue

    often implies a constructive exchange between two parties, sometimes with the goal of resolving differences

  • exchange

    typically shorter and less detailed than a discussion; can be a brief back-and-forth

Antonyms
  • silence

    the complete absence of talk or exchange of views

Grammar Patterns

have/hold/join + discussion

discussion + about/on/of + topic

Usage Note

Often used with prepositions 'about', 'on', or 'of' to indicate the topic. Unlike 'argument', a discussion does not necessarily involve conflict — the focus is on exchanging ideas.

Common Mistakes

We had a discussion for the new policy.
We had a discussion about the new policy.
Use 'about', 'on', or 'over' to indicate the topic, not 'for'.
I had a discussion with my boss of my salary.
I had a discussion with my boss about my salary.
'Discussion of something' is possible but 'discussion about something' is more common in everyday speech.

2. a written text or spoken presentation that explores or examines a subject thorou

2.nounB2
Definition

a written text or spoken presentation that explores or examines a subject thoroughly, covering different aspects or arguments about it

Example

Nikhil's article offers a thoughtful discussion of urban planning challenges in Southeast Asia.

pattern: discussion of [subject] in writing

The biology textbook includes a detailed discussion of the human circulatory system.

collocation: detailed discussion / include a discussion

Common collocations
  • detailed discussion
  • thorough discussion
  • in-depth discussion
  • scholarly discussion
  • panel discussion
  • discussion of
  • discussion on
  • offer a discussion
  • include a discussion
  • contain a discussion
Synonyms
  • analysis

    focuses on breaking down the subject into components; more technical and methodical

  • examination

    suggests close, careful scrutiny; often used in academic titles

  • treatment

    emphasises how the subject is covered or handled within a work; common in book reviews

Grammar Patterns

discussion + of/on + subject

a/the + discussion + of + topic

Usage Note

Common in academic and professional contexts. Unlike Sense 1, this sense refers to a structured treatment of a topic (a chapter, article, lecture) rather than an interactive conversation between people.

Common Mistakes

I wrote a discussion for my final exam.
I wrote a discussion of Gothic architecture for my final exam.
In this sense, the topic must be stated explicitly. Use 'discussion of' or 'discussion on' to introduce the subject.
The book contains a discussion.
The book contains a discussion of post-war economics.
Without specifying the subject, the sentence feels incomplete in this formal sense.

Word family

  • discuss
    verbA2
  • discussable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe verbal exchanges, but they differ in tone and purpose. A 'discussion' is a purposeful exchange of ideas, often with the goal of reaching a clearer understanding. A 'conversation' is more casual and open-ended — people chat without a fixed agenda. A 'debate' involves opposing sides arguing for different positions, usually with a winner in mind. 'Dialogue' suggests a constructive back-and-forth, often aimed at resolving disagreement or building mutual understanding. For example, a team might have a discussion about budget cuts (looking for solutions), a conversation about weekend plans (purely social), a debate on tax policy (arguing opposite views), and a dialogue between management and workers (trying to find common ground).

discussion ↗conversation ↗debate ↗dialogue ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • topic of discussion
  • subject of discussion
  • point of discussion

Adverbs

Phrases

  • open for discussion
  • matter for discussion
  • beyond discussion

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'discussion' comes from the Latin 'discussio', meaning 'examination' or 'investigation'. The root verb 'discutere' meant 'to shake apart' — from 'dis-' ('apart') and 'quatere' ('to shake'). The original idea was breaking a subject into pieces to examine it closely, much like shaking a tree to see what falls out. The word entered English through French in the 14th century, and over time shifted from 'examination' to the modern sense of talking something through.