indiscretion

noun

in·​dis·​cre·​tion ˌin-di-ˈskre-shən 

1

: lack of discretion : imprudence

dietary indiscretion

2

a

: something (such as an act or remark) marked by lack of discretion

characterized his binge drinking in college as a youthful indiscretion

b

: an act at variance with the accepted morality of a society

resigned because of financial indiscretions

Synonyms of indiscretion

• blunder
• mistake
• error
• solecism

Examples of indiscretion in a Sentence

She committed a few minor indiscretions.

put the incident down as just a youthful indiscretion

Recent Examples on the Web

Coming Up Carbs In a third act mea culpa that feels reminiscent of Andy and Nate’s makeup from the first film, Emily apologizes to Andy for her latest round of workplace indiscretions. —Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026

According to Becerra, actually, Democrats have done wonders for Californians with only a few minor indiscretions. —Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026

In this case, the arc of the season was primed for Batula to be the victim rising from the ashes of her divorce, only for her recent romantic indiscretions to shatter that fantasy. —Shamira Ibrahim, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026

The most successful and lucrative family vlogs are indiscreet almost by definition—and yet the wrong kind of indiscretion can derail the whole gravy train. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing indiscretion

• youthful indiscretion

Rhymes for indiscretion

• decompression
• dispossession
• intercession
• introgression
• nonaggression
• prepossession
• recompression
• repossession
• retrocession
• retrogression
• supersession
• accession

Kids Definition

indiscretion

noun

in·​dis·​cre·​tion ˌin-dis-ˈkresh-ən 

1

: lack of discretion : imprudence

2

: an indiscreet act or remark