Discount

/ˈdɪskaʊnt/

nounBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A deduction from the usual cost of something, often a percentage.

/ˈdɪskaʊnt/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A reduction in the usual price of something.

I got a discount on the new video game.

💡 Simply: Imagine you want to buy a toy, but it's too expensive. If there's a discount, it means you get to pay less money for the toy. Like when you see a 'sale' sign!

👶 For kids: A discount is when something costs less money than usual!

More Examples

2

There's a discount for students on public transportation.

3

The store has a special discount today.

How It's Used

Commerce

"The store offered a 20% discount on all shoes."

Finance

"The bank provides discounts on loans for preferred customers."

2

To lower the price of something; to regard something as being less important; to disregard.

/dɪˈskaʊnt/

verbneutralmedium
General

To reduce the price of something.

The store discounted the price of the winter coats.

💡 Simply: To 'discount' is like when a store decides to make something cheaper. They're discounting it! Or, imagine you hear some gossip; if you don't believe it, you're discounting what someone said.

👶 For kids: To discount means to make something cost less money, or to not believe something is true.

More Examples

2

I'm not going to discount her advice; she's usually right.

3

The company decided to discount the project due to the high cost.

How It's Used

Commerce

"The retailer is discounting some of their older inventory."

Finance

"The bank discounted the bill for early payment."

Tip:To *discount* is to *reduce* (price) or *underestimate* (importance) the value of something.

Idioms & expressions

to take something into account/consideration

To consider something when making a decision or forming an opinion.

"We need to take the weather into account before planning the picnic."

From Old French *desconter* ('to count out'), from *des-* (dis-) + *conter* ('to count'), reflecting the action of subtracting from a total amount. The term evolved to signify a reduction in price or value.

Historically, "discount" was used primarily in financial contexts to refer to a reduction in value. Over time, its application broadened to include price reductions in commerce.

Memory tip

Think of a *discount* as taking a slice off the original price, a way to make something more appealing to buy.

discontdiscound

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written