discipline
/ˈdɪ.sə.plɪn/ · dis·ci·pline
noun
- A controlled behaviour; self‑control. She showed great discipline by sticking to her workout routine.
- A specific branch of knowledge or learning. Physics is a discipline that explores the fundamental laws of nature.
verb
- To train someone by instruction and practice. The coach disciplined the team with rigorous drills.
- To teach someone to obey authority. Parents often discipline their children to instill respect for rules.
- To punish someone in order to (re)gain control. The manager disciplined the employee for repeated tardiness.
Did you know? The term 'discipline' was originally used in monastic contexts to refer to the set of rules governing monks, and it later broadened to denote any systematic field of study.