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 just more than seven hours of deliberation, a jury on Tuesday convicted David Pearce of two counts of first-degree murder in the overdose deaths of 24-year-old Christy Giles and 26-year-old Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, NBC Los Angeles reported.
—
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
Cassidy, for his part, wasn’t saying much about his personal deliberations.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
Most spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security deliberations.
—Erin Banco, Anastasiia Malenko, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
Selecting the right rose takes research and thoughtful deliberations and decisions.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deliberation 
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Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
Cassidy, for his part, wasn’t saying much about his personal deliberations.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
Most spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security deliberations.
—Erin Banco, Anastasiia Malenko, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
Selecting the right rose takes research and thoughtful deliberations and decisions.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
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 10 Feb. 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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