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Noun: discretion  di'skre-shun
  1. Freedom to act or judge on one's own
    "The manager was given full discretion in hiring new employees"
     
  2. The power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies
    "The judge used her discretion in sentencing";
    - free will
     
  3. The trait of judging wisely and objectively
    "a man of discretion";
    - discernment
     
  4. Knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress
    "the servants showed great tact and discretion";
    - discreetness, circumspection, prudence
     
  5. Refined taste; tact
    "His discretion in not mentioning the incident was appreciated";
    - delicacy

Derived forms: discretions

Type of: appreciation, discernment, judgement, judgment, liberty, perceptiveness, power, powerfulness, sagaciousness, sagacity, taste, wisdom, wiseness

Encyclopedia: Discretion