discreet
/dɪˈskriːt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Careful not to attract attention, especially about private, sensitive, or embarrassing matters. A discreet person keeps things quiet and handles them tactfully.
- She was discreet about their relationship.
- Please be discreet with this information.
- The manager gave a discreet nod.
Adinary Nuance
Discreet is close to careful, tactful, and secretive, but it is not the same. Use discreet when someone avoids public attention or protects privacy. Secretive can sound more suspicious, while tactful focuses more on speech and behavior. Careful is broader and does not always mean private.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thận trọng
- Spanish
- discreto
- Chinese
- 谨慎的
- Japanese
- 控えめな
- Korean
- 신중한
Etymology
Discreet comes from Old French discret, from Latin discretus, meaning 'separate' or 'distinguished.' It entered English in the late Middle Ages, with the sense of careful judgement.
Common phrases
be discreet aboutdiscreetly handlea discreet gesturekeep it discreet
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is discreet the same as secretive?
- No. Discreet means careful and private. Secretive often suggests hiding something suspicious.
- Is discreet formal or informal?
- It is neutral to slightly formal. It is common in business, polite speech, and writing.
- How do I use discreet in a sentence?
- Use it before a noun or after be. Example: She was discreet about the matter.
- What is the difference between discreet and discrete?
- Discreet means careful and private. Discrete means separate or distinct.