Discrete or Discreet | Difference, Meaning & Examples
Discrete and discreet are two adjectives that are commonly confused. The two words are pronounced the same ([disk-reet]) and related in origin, but they have distinct meanings and should not be used interchangeably.
- Discrete means “separate” or “distinct.” It’s used especially in mathematical and research contexts as the opposite of “continuous.”
- Discreet is used to mean “inconspicuous,” “cautious,” or “discerning.” It’s used in less technical contexts, usually to describe people, actions, and things.
| Examples: Discrete in a sentence | Examples: Discreet in a sentence |
|---|---|
| Discrete variables are those that are counted using integers. | Please be discreet about this; I don’t want anyone else to know. |
| The symphony proceeds through four discrete movements, each with its own theme. | The car’s color and design are discreet. It’s elegant, but it’s not flashy. |
| The patient passed through several discrete stages of illness before recovering. | It’s essential to be discreet in my line of work—you can’t just act on your first instinct. |
What does discrete mean?
Discrete is an adjective used to describe something that is individual—not continuous with something else. Used with a plural noun, it describes a group of things that can be individually distinguished from each other.
The word is frequently used in technical, mathematical, and research contexts (e.g., discrete mathematics, discrete variables, discrete probability distributions). In a nontechnical, informal context, you’d be more likely to use a synonym like “separate” or “distinct.”
Countable nouns refer to discrete entities, uncountable nouns to something more continuous or abstract.
What does discreet mean?
Discreet is an adjective with a few different senses. It can be used to mean “inconspicuous” (unlikely to be noticed), often describing a person, action, or object. Relatedly, it can indicate the quality of modesty—which also involves not drawing attention to oneself.
In a slightly distinct sense, used to describe a person, it can indicate that they are prudent—they exercise good judgment and act with caution.
The noun discretion (pronounced [disk-resh-un]) is also related in meaning to discreet: it can mean either the quality of good judgment or simply the power to make a choice.
Are the two words related?
Although they have quite different meanings now, discrete and discreet were once simply two spellings of the same word, based on the Latin “discrētus.” Either spelling could be used for either meaning.
The logical connection between the two meanings is that the ability to keep things separate (discrete) in your mind or in how you organize your life is related to the quality of being discerning or prudent (discreet).
Since the 18th century, the two spellings have been strictly associated with the two different meanings—but their origin as a single word may explain why people still have some difficulty distinguishing between them today.
Worksheet: Discreet vs. discrete
You can test your understanding of the difference between “discreet” and “discrete” with the worksheet below. Fill in either “discreet” or “discrete” in each sentence.
- Please try to be ______ in your deliveries. Our customers value their privacy.
- The number of students in the class is a ______ variable.
- The collection consists of several ______ parts.
- It would be in______ to boast about your salary.
- Neilina’s fashion sense was ______; she didn’t like to draw attention to herself.
- Please try to be discreet in your deliveries. Our customers value their privacy.
- “Discreet” here means “inconspicuous”—not likely to be noticed.
- The number of students in the class is a discrete variable.
- A discrete variable is one that can be counted in whole numbers.
- The collection consists of several discrete parts.
- Here, “discrete” is used to mean “separate”—the parts are not connected to each other.
- It would be indiscreet to boast about your salary.
- “Indiscreet” means the opposite of “discreet”—in this case, in the sense of “immodest” or “imprudent.”
- Neilina’s fashion sense was discreet; she didn’t like to draw attention to herself.
- Here, “discreet” is used to mean “modest” or “unpretentious.”
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between discrete and continuous variables?
-
Discrete and continuous variables are two types of quantitative variables:
- Discrete variables represent counts (e.g. the number of objects in a collection).
- Continuous variables represent measurable amounts (e.g. water volume or weight).
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Caulfield, J. (2023, March 11). Discrete or Discreet | Difference, Meaning & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved November 3, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/commonly-confused-words/discrete-or-discreet/
