disciplinarian

noun

dis·​ci·​pli·​nar·​i·​an ˌdi-sə-plə-ˈner-ē-ən How to pronounce disciplinarian (audio)
: one who disciplines or enforces order
disciplinarian adjective

Examples of disciplinarian in a Sentence

The school's principal is a strict disciplinarian.
Recent Examples on the Web Sanders, Taylor makes clear, is not a players’ coach, but an old-school disciplinarian. Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023 Hamilton is a disciplinarian with a heart. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 20 Mar. 2021 Again, there is no subordination of individual justices to an external disciplinarian. Simon Lazarus, The New Republic, 16 Mar. 2023 The marketplace is a tough disciplinarian, in contrast to government, and the first duty of a corporate board is to replace a CEO who isn’t doing the job. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2022 To Mercedes, Keyshawn (Shannon Thornton, a beauty with anime eyes), Gidget (Skyler Joy), and the other girls, Uncle Clifford is like a headmistress, a disciplinarian and a confidante, a warden and a mother. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Janet had no desire to become a singer, but her father, Joe Jackson, a strict disciplinarian whose laser-like focus uplifted his family from poverty, had different ideas. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2022 When having vulnerable conversations, Bond recommends sitting next to your child rather than sitting across the table — which is often where a disciplinarian is when reprimanding someone. Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021 Sporting long-ish red hair and salt-and-pepper sideburns that wouldn’t last a second in the presence of a West Point disciplinarian. BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disciplinarian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

disciplin(ary) + -arian

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disciplinarian was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near disciplinarian

Cite this Entry

“Disciplinarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disciplinarian. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

disciplinarian

noun
dis·​ci·​pli·​nar·​i·​an ˌdis-ə-plə-ˈner-ē-ən How to pronounce disciplinarian (audio)
: one who disciplines or enforces order
disciplinarian adjective

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