discipline

UK: /ˈdɪsɪplɪn/ US: /ˈdɪsəplɪn/ ,(dis′ə plin)

Inflections of 'discipline' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

disciplines

v 3rd person singular

disciplining

v pres p

disciplined

v past

disciplined

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ci•pline /ˈdɪsəplɪn/   n., v., -plined, -plin•ing. 
n. 

1. training to act in accordance with rules;
   drill:
   [uncountable] military discipline.
2. exercise that develops a skill;
   training:
   [uncountable] Working at the typewriter every day is good discipline for a writer.
3. behavior in accord with rules of conduct:
   [uncountable] keeping good discipline in an army.
4. punishment given by way of correction and training:
   [uncountable] Discipline consisted of demerits for incorrect answers.
5. the training effect of experience, difficulty, etc.:
   [uncountable] the harsh discipline of poverty.
6. a branch of instruction or learning:
   [countable] the disciplines of history and economics.

v. [~ + object]

7. to train by instruction and exercise;
   drill:
   His dog was disciplined by a professional trainer.
8. to punish or penalize;
   correct:
   Those teachers weren't afraid to discipline their students.

dis•ci•plined, adj.: 

The strictly disciplined army continued to march.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ci•pline  (dis′ə plin), n., v., -plined, -plin•ing. 
n. 

1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill:
   military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill;
   training:
   A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.:
   the harsh discipline of poverty.
5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct;
   behavior and order maintained by training and control:
   good discipline in an army.
6. a set or system of rules and regulations.
7. Religion [Eccles.] the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
8. an instrument of punishment, esp. a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.
9. a branch of instruction or learning:
   the disciplines of history and economics.

v.t. 

10. to train by instruction and exercise;
    drill.
11. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
12. to punish or penalize in order to train and control;
    correct;
    chastise.

• Latin disciplīna instruction, tuition, equivalent. to discipul(us) disciple + -ina -ine²
• Anglo-French
• Middle English 1175–1225

dis•ci•pli•nal  (dis′ə plə nl, -plin′l, dis′ə plīn′l), adj.  dis′ci•plin′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. chastisement, castigation.
• 12. See punish. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

discipline / ˈdɪsɪplɪn/ noun

1. training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self-control, etc
2. systematic training in obedience to regulations and authority
3. the state of improved behaviour, etc, resulting from such training or conditions
4. punishment or chastisement
5. a system of rules for behaviour, methods of practice, etc
6. a branch of learning or instruction
7. the laws governing members of a Church

verb (transitive)

1. to improve or attempt to improve the behaviour, orderliness, etc, of by training, conditions, or rules
2. to punish or correct

Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin disciplīna teaching, from discipulus disciple

ˈdisciˌplinable adjective

disciplinal / ˌdɪsɪˈplaɪn^əl ˈdɪsɪˌplɪn^əl/ adjective

ˈdisciˌpliner noun