What does discountenance mean?
Discountenance is a formal verb meaning to disapprove of something openly and to discourage it, whether by one's facial expression, stated opinion, or institutional authority. A government may discountenance speculation about a policy change; a schoolmaster might discountenance cheating among his pupils. The word carries a second, older sense: to embarrass or disconcert someone — to "put them out of countenance." Derived from "countenance," which historically meant both a person's face and their bearing or approval, discountenance literally suggests withholding approval by one's very expression. Today it is chiefly found in official, legal, and literary contexts, where its slightly archaic gravity lends weight to declarations of disapproval. It is more forceful than mere disagreement: to discountenance a practice is to signal clearly that it will not be tolerated.
verbTo disapprove of something and discourage it through one's attitude, expression, or authority; also, to cause someone to feel embarrassed or disconcerted.
- To express disapproval of something and seek to prevent or discourage it.
- To abash or disconcert someone; to put out of countenance.
"The committee discountenanced any suggestion of cutting corners on safety."
"The board firmly discountenanced any discussion of relaxing the ethical guidelines."
"She was visibly discountenanced by the chairman's blunt remarks."
"Discountenance" is essentially "to frown at" made official — it entered English in the late 16th century as the formal way of saying you disapprove so strongly that others should too.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discountenance
Discountenance derives from the prefix "dis-" combined with "countenance," entering English in the late sixteenth century. "Countenance" comes from Old French "contenance," meaning bearing or demeanor, ultimately from Latin "continentia" (restraint), from "continere" (to hold together) — the same root that gives English "contain," "continue," and "continent." Originally referring to a disapproving facial expression, the verb broadened to mean active discouragement or disapproval of conduct.
How discountenance is actually used
Formal and somewhat old-fashioned; common in institutional, legal, and diplomatic writing but rare in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with discountenance
"Countenance" means to approve or tolerate something (or refers to a person's face), whereas "discountenance" means the opposite — to disapprove of and discourage it.