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
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
This was intended to be a an [sic] internal and private deliberation amongst high-level senior staff and sensitive information was discussed.
—
ArsTechnica, 26 Mar. 2025
On March 19, the jury found after about two hours of deliberations that Harden committed fraud and directed him to pay $900,000 in punitive damages to Santopietro.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
In addition, the public must be assured these sorts of internal deliberations will in the future occur only in a secure setting.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
The Prudhomme family’s attorneys had asked jurors to award his parents more than $17 million in damages, but after about a day of deliberations, the jury ruled that the city, through its employee, DeRieux, was not negligent.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deliberation
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ArsTechnica, 26 Mar. 2025
On March 19, the jury found after about two hours of deliberations that Harden committed fraud and directed him to pay $900,000 in punitive damages to Santopietro.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
In addition, the public must be assured these sorts of internal deliberations will in the future occur only in a secure setting.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
The Prudhomme family’s attorneys had asked jurors to award his parents more than $17 million in damages, but after about a day of deliberations, the jury ruled that the city, through its employee, DeRieux, was not negligent.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deliberation
Cite this Entry
“Deliberation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deliberation. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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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