discretion

/dɪˈskrɛʃən/
noun
  1. The freedom or authority to decide what should be done in a particular situation, based on one's own judgment.
    • The judge used her discretion to give the young offender a lighter sentence.
    • The manager has the discretion to approve time off requests.
    • Teachers have some discretion in how they present the material to their classes.
  2. The quality of being careful and respectful in what you say or do, especially to avoid causing embarrassment or revealing private information.
    • The doctor's discretion is important when discussing a patient's health with family.
    • He handled the sensitive situation with great discretion, not mentioning names.
    • You can trust her with your secret; she is known for her discretion.
What does "discretion" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean