/ dɪˈskreʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
the freedom or power to decide what should be done in a particular situation :
I'll leave it up to you to use your discretion .
How much to tell terminally ill patients is left to the discretion of the doctor.
2.
care in what you say or do, in order to keep sth secret or to avoid causing embarrassment to or difficulty for sb; the quality of being discreet :
This is confidential, but I know that I can rely on your discretion.
—compare indiscretion ➡ note at care
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IDIOMS
- at sb's discretion
- discretion is the better part of valour
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense to show good judgement): via Old French from Latin discretio(n-) separation (in late Latin discernment), from discernere , from dis- apart + cernere to separate.