discreet vs discrete
Discreet means careful and tactful — keeping something quiet. Discrete means separate, individually distinct. A discreet word is a private one; discrete parts are separate ones.
The difference
- discreet (adjective) — careful, tactful, unobtrusive
- discrete (adjective) — separate, individually distinct
Examples
- He made a discreet enquiry.
- The course has three discrete modules.
How to remember
In discrete, the two e's are separated by the t — separate, like its meaning.
The common trap
Using 'discreet' for 'separate' — the maths/technical sense is always discrete.
These distinctions are exactly what Word Meaning and Contextual Word Choice questions test. Read the Word Meaning guide or Contextual Word Choice guide, then practise the drill.