What does discreditable mean?
Discreditable is an adjective describing behavior or actions that damage a person's reputation or bring them into disgrace. When conduct is called discreditable, it falls short of accepted standards of honesty or decency and reflects badly on the person responsible. The word carries a formal tone and appears frequently in legal judgments, professional disciplinary findings, and serious journalism — for example, an inquiry might conclude that an official engaged in discreditable conduct. It sits between milder terms such as "unseemly" and stronger ones like "disgraceful" or "scandalous," implying genuine censure without necessarily suggesting outright criminality. Derived from "credit" in its sense of good reputation, with the negative prefix "dis-" and the suffix "-able," it can be understood as "not worthy of credit." Its adverb form, "discreditably," describes actions carried out in a way that brings shame.
adjectiveHarmful to one's reputation or standing; bringing disgrace or discredit upon a person or institution.
- (Of actions or behavior) damaging to one's reputation; shameful or disgraceful.
"The senator resigned after the discreditable details of his expenses came to light."
"The court found that the officer had engaged in discreditable conduct during the arrest."
"She kept the letters private, fearing their contents would prove discreditable to her family."
The word literally means "not credit-able": something that earns you no credit at all — only blame.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discreditable
Discreditable derives from "credit," which entered English from Latin "creditum," meaning "a loan" or "something entrusted," from the verb "credere" ("to believe or trust"). In English, "credit" came to mean good reputation or esteem by the 16th century. Combining the prefix "dis-" (expressing reversal) with "creditable" produced "discreditable," attested from around the mid-16th century, describing things that diminish rather than enhance one's reputation. It shares this Latin root with words such as "credible," "credential," and "incredible."
Related word forms
How discreditable is actually used
Formal to semi-formal register, common in legal, professional, and journalistic contexts. Often used in phrases like "discreditable conduct," particularly in disciplinary proceedings. Slightly more formal than "shameful" but less severe than "scandalous."
Easily confused with discreditable
"Discreet" means careful and tactful, while "discreditable" means damaging to one's reputation — they share no meaning despite a superficial resemblance in spelling.
"Discrete" means separate or distinct, whereas "discreditable" describes conduct that harms one's reputation.