Definition

1. Noun:
   • A minor or petty misdeed; an act that shows poor judgment or lack of discretion: An indiscretion is a small, often foolish mistake or action that is not considered seriously wrong but shows a lapse in careful judgment.
   • The quality or state of being indiscreet; lack of discretion: Indiscretion can also refer to the general trait of being injudicious, imprudent, or not careful about what one says or does.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to a minor misdeed or lapse in judgment:

  • His youthful indiscretions were later a source of embarrassment. (The foolish things he did when he was young later made him feel ashamed.)
  • Revealing the company's secret plans was a serious indiscretion. (Telling people about the company's secret plans was a major error in judgment.)

• Referring to the general trait of being indiscreet:

  • The diplomat's indiscretion nearly caused an international incident. (The diplomat's lack of careful judgment almost caused a problem between countries.)
  • Gossip often stems from simple indiscretion. (People spreading rumors often just shows they are not being careful or discreet.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "A moment of indiscretion": This phrase emphasizes a single, specific instance of poor judgment, often implying it was out of character.

  • In a moment of indiscretion, he confessed everything to a stranger. (During one unguarded moment, he told a stranger all his secrets.)

• "Political/Financial indiscretion": Used to specify the domain in which the lack of judgment occurred, often with more serious connotations.

  • The scandal was fueled by a series of financial indiscretions. (The scandal was caused by several mistakes involving money.)

Variants and Related Words

• Indiscreet (adjective): Not having or showing good judgment; revealing things that should be kept private.

  • It was indiscreet of her to discuss salaries at the dinner table. (It was not careful or wise of her to talk about how much people earn during a meal.)

• Discretion (noun): The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. (This is the opposite quality.)

  • A good lawyer must always act with discretion. (A good lawyer must always be careful and judicious.)

Synonyms

• Imprudence: Lack of care or thought for the future; unwise behavior.
• Faux pas: A socially awkward or tactless act, a blunder.
• Lapse: A temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment.

Antonyms

• Discretion: Careful and prudent behavior.
• Circumspection: The quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; prudence.
• Tact: Skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• To commit an indiscretion: A formal way to say "to do something indiscreet."

  • He committed a grave indiscretion by leaking the document. (He made a very serious error by giving out the confidential document.)

• Indiscretion of youth: A phrase used to describe foolish mistakes typical of young people, often with a forgiving tone.

  • We should forgive his past behavior as mere indiscretions of youth. (We should excuse his past actions as just the foolish mistakes young people make.)

Noun

1. a petty misdeed
2. the trait of being injudicious