deliberation
noun
de·lib·er·a·tion
di-ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən 
1
a
: the act of thinking about or discussing something and deciding carefully : the act of deliberating
After careful deliberation, he decided to study medicine rather than law.
b
: a discussion and consideration by a group of persons (such as a jury or legislature) of the reasons for and against a measure
The jury returned a verdict after a four-hour deliberation.
2
: the quality or state of being deliberate
spoke with clarity and deliberation
worked with deliberation on the painting
Synonyms
Examples of deliberation in a Sentence
After hours of deliberation, the council came to a decision.
Jury deliberations lasted two days.
She spoke to the audience with clarity and deliberation.
Recent Examples on the Web
After five days of testimony and two days of deliberation, the jury reached its decision, acquitting David of murder but remaining deadlocked on the manslaughter charge.
—
Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024
But this was made within a couple of weeks of the election, and there was no substantive serious deliberation with the editorial board of the paper.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations about the proposal with the media.
—Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
People familiar with the deliberations told Bloomberg that the EU is essentially debating whether Musk should be fined instead of X itself.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deliberation 
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Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024
But this was made within a couple of weeks of the election, and there was no substantive serious deliberation with the editorial board of the paper.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations about the proposal with the media.
—Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
People familiar with the deliberations told Bloomberg that the EU is essentially debating whether Musk should be fined instead of X itself.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deliberation
Dictionary Entries Near deliberation
Cite this Entry
“Deliberation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deliberation. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deliberation
noun
de·lib·er·a·tion
di-ˌlib-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the act of deliberating
2
: a discussion and consideration of the reasons for and against something
3
: the quality of being deliberate : deliberateness
Legal Definition
deliberation
noun
de·lib·er·a·tion
di-ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən
1
a
: the act of deliberating compare premeditation
b
: a discussion and consideration by a group of persons (as a jury or legislature) of the reasons for or against a measure
2
: the quality or state of being deliberate
killing with deliberation
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