discreet

English

Etymology

From Old French discret, from Latin discretus, from past participle of discernere.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɪˈskriːt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːt
• Homophone: discrete (separable into parts)

Adjective

discreet (comparative more discreet, superlative most discreet)

1. Respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic.

   With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.

   John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet.

2. Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.

Usage notes

• Do not confuse with discrete.

Derived terms

• discreetly
• discretion

Translations

respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic

Bulgarian: дискретен (bg), тактичен (bg) Dutch: discreet (nl) Finnish: hienotunteinen (fi), hienovarainen (fi), tahdikas (fi), diskreetti (fi) French: discret (fr) German: diskret (de)

Greek: διακριτική (el) (diakritiki) f., διακριτικός (el) (diakritikos) m. Hungarian: diszkrét (hu), tapintatos (hu), titoktartó (hu) Polish: dyskretny (pl) Russian: тактичный (ru) Spanish: discreto (es)

not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous

Bulgarian: предпазлив (bg), сдържан (bg) Finnish: hillitty (fi), diskreetti (fi) French: discret (fr)

German: diskret (de) Russian: незаметный (ru), неброский (ru)

Anagrams

• discrete

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Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch discreet, from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from discernō.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

discreet (comparative discreter, superlative discreetst)

1. discreet
2. discrete

Declension

Declension of discreet

		positive	comparative	superlative
				attributive	predicative/adverbial
predicative/adverbial		discreet	discreter
neuter singular	indefinite	discreet	discreter
	definite	discrete	discretere	discreetste	het discreetst(e)
common singular		discrete	discretere	discreetste	de discreetste
plural		discrete	discretere	discreetste	de discreetste
partitive		discreets	discreters