discount
B1Neutral to formal (as a noun in commerce). The verb can be neutral, but in the 'disregard' sense, it is often more formal or academic.
Definition
Meaning
A deduction from the usual or full price of something.
To disregard or minimize the significance of something, often because it seems unlikely or unreliable; also used in finance to refer to the purchase or sale of a bill or security for less than its face value, reflecting current interest rates.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun typically refers to a price reduction. The verb has two distinct meanings: 1) to deduct an amount from a price, 2) to disregard or consider something as unimportant or unlikely.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor stress and pronunciation differences in the verb form. In American business contexts, 'discount' as a noun is extremely common and unambiguous. In British English, 'reduction' or 'offer' might be used more interchangeably in everyday retail.
Connotations
Similar core commercial connotations. The verb sense 'to disregard' is equally common in both varieties in formal/academic contexts.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to pervasive marketing culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
discount sth (from sth)discount sth as sthbe discounted at X%discount the possibility/idea/claimVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “at a discount (available for less than usual price or value)”
- “discount for cash”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A 15% discount is offered for bulk purchases. The invoice shows a trade discount.
Academic
We cannot discount the influence of socio-economic factors in this study.
Everyday
Do you have any discount for students? I got a 20% discount in the sale.
Technical
The bond was discounted at a rate of 5% to reflect its present value.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They discounted £50 from the original price.
- The theory was largely discounted by experts.
American English
- The store discounts all holiday merchandise on December 26.
- You shouldn't discount his advice so quickly.
adverb
British English
- (Rare, not standard) N/A
American English
- (Rare, not standard) N/A
adjective
British English
- I bought it at a discount price.
- They are a discount retailer.
American English
- We flew on a discount airline.
- Check the discount aisle for bargains.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I got a discount on this book.
- The discount is 10 percent.
- Do you offer a discount for students?
- They discounted the price because the box was damaged.
- Early bookings are eligible for a substantial discount.
- We cannot discount the possibility that the data is flawed.
- The analyst discounted future cash flows to determine the net present value.
- His testimony was largely discounted by the jury due to inconsistencies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COUNT'ing DOWN the price. A DIS-COUNT takes the count (price) down.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE/CREDIBILITY IS VALUE (to discount an idea is to reduce its perceived value/credibility).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'discount' as a direct translation for 'скидка' in all contexts; 'reduction' or 'offer' might be more natural in casual UK English. The verb 'discount' (disregard) is a false friend for Russian 'дисконтировать' (which is only financial); in English, it is broader.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect stress: saying /dɪsˈkaʊnt/ for the noun in isolation. Using 'discount' as a verb without an object: *'The shop discounts.' (Correct: 'The shop offers discounts.' or 'The shop discounts old stock.')
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'discount' used to mean 'disregard'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, yes: noun = DIS-count, verb = dis-COUNT. However, in modern English, especially American English, DIS-count is common for both. The traditional distinction is fading.
A discount is a deduction made at the point of sale. A rebate is a partial refund paid back to the customer after the purchase is completed.
Yes, commonly in compounds like 'discount store', 'discount rate', 'discount price', meaning 'offered at a reduced price' or 'relating to a deduction'.
It means to consider it unlikely or to exclude it from serious consideration, often based on evidence or probability.
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.