Deliberation
/dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe act of carefully considering or discussing something; a careful weighing of the pros and cons.
/dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/
Careful consideration or discussion of a subject.
After much deliberation, they decided to accept the job offer.
💡 Simply: Deliberation is like when you're trying to decide what to get for your birthday. You think about all the options, what you really want, and what's most important before making your final decision. Like, "Should I get a bike or a video game?" That's deliberation!
👶 For kids: Thinking very carefully about something before you make a decision.
More Examples
The committee spent hours in deliberation before reaching a conclusion.
The judge asked the jury to go into deliberation to reach a verdict.
How It's Used
"The jury went into deliberation to reach a verdict."
"The committee's deliberation on the proposed bill took several weeks."
"The board engaged in serious deliberation before approving the merger."
A formal discussion or debate, typically within a group or organization.
/dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/
A formal discussion or debate of a subject.
The court's deliberation was open to the public.
💡 Simply: Imagine a meeting where people carefully discuss and debate something. This is a deliberation. The members are like judges, and the debate is the situation on the table!
👶 For kids: Talking and thinking carefully as a group about something.
More Examples
The committee's deliberation on the budget took several days.
The conference featured several hours of deliberation on climate change.
How It's Used
"The Senate's deliberation on the new law lasted for three days."
"The panel's deliberation focused on the ethical implications of the research."
Idioms & expressions
deliberation is the mother of safety
Careful consideration before acting is essential for preventing mistakes or harm.
"When making important choices, remember that deliberation is the mother of safety, and take your time."
After much deliberation
Used to indicate that a decision was made after careful thought and consideration.
"After much deliberation, they chose to move to another state."
From Latin *dēliberātiō* (“a weighing carefully, a considering, a deliberating”), from *dēliberāre* (“to weigh well, to consider carefully”), from *dē-* (“thoroughly”) + *liberāre* (“to weigh”).
The word 'deliberation' has been used in legal and political contexts for centuries, reflecting its importance in decision-making processes.
Memory tip
Imagine a scale, deliberating involves weighing the options on each side of it.