Meanings
plural discernments
- countableuncountableThe act of distinguishing between things.
- countableuncountableThe ability to distinguish between things.
- countableuncountableThe ability to perceive differences that exist.
- countableuncountableThe condition of understanding.
- countableuncountableAesthetic discrimination; taste, appreciation.
- countableuncountablePerceptiveness.
- countableuncountableDiscretion in judging objectively.
1 more example
Unmasking requires we stop relying on neurotypical people’s acceptance in order to guide how we should act—and that means sometimes doing the “right” thing even when we know it will rub others the wrong way. Most masked Autistics need a lot of practice developing a strong sense of discernment, which is essentially using our own beliefs and perceptions to guide our behavior, rather than deferring to everyone else’s fleeting reactions and impressions.
2022, Devon Price, chapter 7, in Michele Eniclerico, editor, Unmasking Autism, New York: Harmony Books, →ISBN, page 193
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe cognitive condition of someone who understands
noundelicate discrimination (especially of esthetic values)
nounthe mental ability to understand and discriminate between relations
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Frenchdiscernement
- Englishdiscernment
From Middle French discernement, equivalent to discern + -ment.
More words from Middle French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech schopnost odlišit, diskriminace
- schopnost odlišitthe ability to distinguish between things
- diskriminacediscrimination
- moudrostthe ability to make wise judgements; sagacity
- soudnostthe ability to make wise judgements; sagacity
- soudnostdiscretion in judging objectively
Dutch onderscheidingsvermogen, inzicht
- onderscheidingsvermogenthe ability to distinguish between things
- inzichtperceptiveness
- scherpzinnigheidperceptiveness
French discernement
- discernementthe ability to perceive differences that exist
German Urteilsvermögen, Einsicht
- Urteilsvermögenthe ability to distinguish between things
- Einsichtthe ability to perceive differences that exist
- Einsichtthe condition of understanding
- Diskriminierungdiscrimination
- Urteilsvermögendiscrimination
- Urteilsvermögenaesthetic discrimination; taste, appreciation
- Einsichtperceptiveness
- Urteilsvermögenthe ability to make wise judgements; sagacity
- Urteilsvermögendiscretion in judging objectively
Greek οξυδέρκεια, ευθυκρισία
- οξυδέρκεια (oxydérkeia)the ability to make wise judgements; sagacity
- ευθυκρισία (efthykrisía)discretion in judging objectively
Indonesian tamyiz, pratiaksa
- tamyizthe ability to distinguish between things
- pratiaksathe ability to distinguish between things
- penindasandiscrimination
- diskriminasidiscrimination
- kedayacerapanperceptiveness
- kemampuadilanthe ability to make wise judgements; sagacity
- tamyizdiscretion in judging objectively
- pratiaksadiscretion in judging objectively
Italian distinzione, oculatezza
- distinzionethe ability to distinguish between things
- oculatezzathe ability to distinguish between things
- criteriothe ability to distinguish between things
- discernimentothe ability to perceive differences that exist
- assennatezzathe condition of understanding
- buonsensothe condition of understanding
- discernimentodiscrimination
Romanian discernere, discernământ
- discernerethe ability to distinguish between things
- discernământdiscretion in judging objectively
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
discernment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/discernment
“discernment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/discernment. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “discernment,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/discernment.
Source: discernment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.