indiscretion

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɛʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #24417

Meanings

1

noun
An unwise or careless act or remark, especially one that causes embarrassment.

One small indiscretion at the party cost him the promotion.
2

noun
The quality of being indiscreet; a lack of good judgement or tact.

His political indiscretion made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
3

noun
A brief, secret sexual affair.

The scandal grew once details of his youthful indiscretion came to light.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · the quality of being... imprudence rashnessinjudiciousness

Word family

Forms indiscretions

Derived forms indiscretional

Related forms discretion indiscreet

Etymology

From Old French, from Late Latin indiscrētiō.

indiscrētiō la-lat

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# indiscretion

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɛʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 24417

## Meanings
1. An unwise or careless act or remark, especially one that causes embarrassment.
2. The quality of being indiscreet; a lack of good judgement or tact.
3. A brief, secret sexual affair.

## Examples
- One small indiscretion at the party cost him the promotion.
- His political indiscretion made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
- The scandal grew once details of his youthful indiscretion came to light.

## Derived Forms
- indiscretional

## Related Forms
- discretion
- indiscreet

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: indiscrētiō

## Etymology
From Old French, from Late Latin indiscrētiō.

## AI Etymology
Indiscretion is from Old French, from Late Latin indiscrētiō. Important recorded forms include indiscrētiō (la-lat). Current senses include an unwise or careless act or remark, especially one that causes embarrassment, the quality of being indiscreet; a lack of good judgement or tact, and a brief, secret sexual affair. The wider family includes derived forms such as indiscretional and related words such as discretion and indiscreet.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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