discount

1 of 3

noun

dis·​count ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt 

1

: a reduction made from the gross (see gross entry 1 sense 3b) amount or value of something: such as

a(1)

: a reduction made from a regular or list price

offering customers a ten percent discount

buy tickets at a discount

(2)

: a proportionate deduction from a debt account usually made for cash or prompt payment

b

: a deduction made for interest in advancing money upon or purchasing a bill or note not due

2

: the act or practice of discounting (see discount entry 2)

3

: a deduction taken or allowance made

… we may … have to make very heavy discount, or even sometimes to reject our author's conclusions altogether.

—G. G. Coulton

discount

2 of 3

verb

dis·​count ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt  di-ˈskau̇nt 

discounted; discounting; discounts

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a deduction (see deduction sense 1a) from usually for cash or prompt payment

a discounted price

b

: to sell or offer for sale at a discount (see discount entry 1 sense 1)

discounting last year's model

2

: to lend money on after deducting the discount

3

a

: to leave out of account or consideration : disregard

discount the possibility that the situation may worsen

its effect cannot be entirely discounted

b

: to minimize the importance of

shouldn't discount his contributions

c(1)

: to make allowance (see allowance entry 1 sense 2) for bias or exaggeration in

discount most of their claims

(2)

: to view with doubt

discount a rumor

d

: to anticipate or take into account (something, such as a future event) in present calculations or planning

… mail came chiefly from those organized groups whose opposition had already been discounted …

—Time

intransitive verb

: to give or make discounts (see discount entry 1)

stores planning to discount after the holidays

discounter

ˈdi-ˌskau̇n-tər 

di-ˈskau̇n-

noun

discount

3 of 3

adjective

dis·​count ˈdi-ˌskau̇nt 

1

a

: selling goods or services for less than their regular or list price : selling goods or services at a discount (see discount entry 1 sense 1a(1))

discount stores

a discount broker

discount airlines

b

: offered or sold at a discount

discount tickets

2

: reflecting a discount

discount prices

Synonyms

Noun

• abatement
• deduction
• reduction

Verb

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• condone
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• paper over
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• shrug off
• whitewash
• wink (at)

Examples of discount in a Sentence

Noun

The store offers a two percent discount when customers pay in cash.

a discount of 20% from the original price

Verb

The vacation plan included a discounted price on our hotel room.

Car dealers are heavily discounting last year's unsold models.

These threats cannot be entirely discounted.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Veterans Day: On Veterans Day, many restaurants will offer discounts or free food to those who actively served and retired from the military and first responders. —Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024

Right now, Best Buy has a really nice discount on a portable that boasts some smart design choices and a nice big screen, perfect for working on complicated spreadsheets on the go. —K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024

Verb

Some credit cards, like American Express, offer free or discounted Clear Plus memberships. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024

At many places, offers are for a free or discounted meal. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Norse Atlantic Airways, a discount European airline, recently revealed dozens of flight deals on flights from the United States to Europe throughout the rest of 2024 and early 2025 as part of a September Sale. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2024

Those ties have been buoyed by discount Russian oil purchases from China and sanctions-hit Russia’s increasing reliance on Chinese consumer goods amid its economic isolation. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

modification of French décompter, from Old French desconter, from Medieval Latin discomputare, from Latin dis- + computare to count — more at count

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1621, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing discount

• at a discount
• bank discount
• cash discount
• discount rate
• trade discount

Kids Definition

discount

1 of 2 noun

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt 

: an amount taken off a regular price

a ten percent discount for all employees

discount

2 of 2 verb

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt  dis-ˈkau̇nt 

1

a

: to lower the amount of a bill, debt, or charge

b

: to sell or offer for sale at a lowered price

2

a

: minimize sense 2b

shouldn't discount the importance of studying

b

: to believe only partly : view with doubt

discount the rumors

discountable

-ə-bəl

adjective

Legal Definition

discount

1 of 3 noun

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt 

: a reduction made from the gross amount or value of something: as

a

: a reduction made from a regular or list price or a proportionate deduction from a debt account usually made for prompt payment or for payment in cash

b

: a reduction made for interest in advancing money upon or purchasing a note not yet due

c

: a reduction in the price of a bond see also discount bond at bond sense 2

d

: the sale of securities that are issued below and redeemed at face value compare premium sense 1

discount

2 of 3 transitive verb

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt, dis-ˈkau̇nt 

1

a

: to make a deduction from usually for cash or prompt payment

b

: to sell or offer at a lowered price

2

: to lend money on after deducting a discount

banks discount negotiable instruments

3

: to take into account (a future event or prospect) in making present calculations

intransitive verb

: to give or make discounts

discount

3 of 3 adjective

dis·​count ˈdis-ˌkau̇nt 

1

a

: selling goods or services at a discount

a discount broker

b

: offered or sold at a discount

discount securities

2

: reflecting a discount

the discount price