indiscretion

I1N1D2I1S1C3R1E1T1I1O1N1
/ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɛʃən/

noun

The quality or state of being indiscreet; lack of discretion

“minor indiscretion”

Similar
imprudencerashnessinjudiciousnesspeccadillo
OriginLate Latin indiscrētiō →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

nounindiscretion (countable and uncountable, plural indiscretions)

plural indiscretions

  1. countableuncountableThe quality or state of being indiscreet; lack of discretion

    minor indiscretion

    3 more examples

    political indiscretion

    He apologized for his youthful indiscretion.

    The scandal was caused by a single indiscretion.

    Synonyms: imprudence, rashness

  2. countableuncountableAn indiscreet or imprudent act; indiscreet behavior.

    forgive an indiscretion

  3. countableuncountableA brief sexual liaison.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe quality or state of being indiscreet; lack of discretion

Similar
imprudencerashness

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe trait of being injudicious

Similar
injudiciousness
Broader
follyfoolishnessunwiseness

nouna petty misdeed

Similar
peccadillo
Broader
misbehaviormisbehaviourmisdeed
Also see
foolishnessinjudiciousnesspeccadillo

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Late Latinindiscrētiō
  2. Englishindiscretion

From Old French, from Late Latin indiscrētiō.

More words from Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian нетактичност, неучтивост
  • нетактичност (netaktičnost)Want of discretion
  • неучтивост (neučtivost)Want of discretion
Catalan indiscreció
  • indiscrecióWant of discretion
Chinese Cantonese 不慎
  • 不慎 (bat¹ san⁶)Want of discretion
Dutch indescretie
  • indescretieWant of discretion
Finnish hairahdus
  • hairahdusIndiscreet act
French indiscrétion, indiscrétion
  • indiscrétionWant of discretion
  • indiscrétionIndiscreet act
German Indiskretion, Indiskretion
  • IndiskretionWant of discretion
  • IndiskretionIndiscreet act
Greek αδιακρισία, αδιακρισία
  • αδιακρισία (adiakrisía)Want of discretion
  • αδιακρισία (adiakrisía)Indiscreet act
Romanian indiscreție, indiscreție
  • indiscrețieWant of discretion
  • indiscrețieIndiscreet act
Russian неосмотрительность, нескромность
  • неосмотрительность (neosmotritelʹnostʹ)Want of discretion
  • нескромность (neskromnostʹ)Indiscreet act
Spanish indiscreción
  • indiscreciónWant of discretion
Cite this entry
APA

indiscretion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indiscretion

MLA

“indiscretion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indiscretion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “indiscretion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indiscretion.

Source: indiscretion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.