Discard vs Disregard Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on discard vs disregard. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
Hover over a card, or tap it on mobile, to see the meaning.
To get rid of something unwanted or useless.
“Discard the old batteries safely.”
To pay no attention to; to ignore.
“Please disregard my earlier message.”
A thing thrown away, or a card put down in a card game.
“She picked up the top card from the discard pile.”
A lack of attention, care or respect.
“He showed total disregard for the rules.”
Discard vs disregard is a common mix-up because the two words look alike and both involve setting something aside. The difference is what you do with it. When you discard something, you throw it away. When you disregard something, you choose to ignore it.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discard | To get rid of something unwanted or useless | Verb (throwing away) | Please discard the empty bottles. |
| Discard | A thing thrown away, or a card put down in a game | Noun | He picked a card from the discard pile. |
| Disregard | To pay no attention to; to ignore | Verb (ignoring) | Please disregard the previous email. |
| Disregard | A lack of attention, care or respect | Noun | The driver showed disregard for traffic signs. |
What does discard mean?
Discard means to get rid of something you no longer want, need or can use. In most cases it means to throw the thing away.
You can discard physical items, such as packaging, old documents or broken parts. The word is also used in card games, where a player puts an unwanted card down on the discard pile. Discard can work figuratively too, as when a team discards an old plan and starts again. In every case, the thing is removed, rejected or set aside for good.
What does disregard mean?
Disregard means to pay no attention to something, or to treat it as unimportant. The thing still exists, but you choose to ignore it.
Disregard usually applies to information, advice, instructions, warnings or rules, such as disregard the error message or disregard my last email. It is fairly formal and often appears in workplace and legal writing. As a noun, disregard means a lack of care or respect, as in a disregard for safety.
Discard vs Disregard: What is the main difference?
The main difference is that discard removes something, while disregard ignores something. Discard is about getting rid of a thing, and disregard is about not paying attention to it.
Compare two sentences. Discard the old notes tells you to throw them away. Disregard the old notes tells you to ignore what they say, though you may still keep them in a drawer. The first changes where the notes are, and the second changes how much attention you give them.
Can you use discard and disregard interchangeably?
Rarely. They overlap only in a figurative sense, and even then the meaning shifts slightly.
If you discard an idea, you reject it and drop it completely. If you disregard an idea, you simply give it no weight, and it could still come back later. In most everyday sentences, swapping them changes the meaning or sounds wrong. Disregard the trash does not mean to throw it away, and discard my email sounds odd in an office.
What does “please disregard” mean in an email?
Please disregard means please ignore the message or information. People use it when an email was sent by mistake or has been corrected.
For example, Please disregard the earlier invoice; a corrected version is attached tells the reader to ignore the first one. It does not ask them to delete it, although they can if they wish. If you want someone to throw something away, say discard.
How can you remember which one to use?
Look for the clue hidden in each word. Discard contains card, something you toss away, and disregard contains regard, the attention you refuse to give. The memory tricks below make it easy.
Common mistakes with discard vs disregard
- ✗ Please disregard the empty boxes in the recycling bin.
✓ Please discard the empty boxes in the recycling bin. - ✗ Please discard my last email; I sent it by mistake.
✓ Please disregard my last email; I sent it by mistake. - ✗ He showed a complete discard for the safety rules.
✓ He showed a complete disregard for the safety rules. - ✗ Players disregard one card at the end of each turn.
✓ Players discard one card at the end of each turn. - ✗ The nurse discarded the warning label and gave the wrong dose.
✓ The nurse disregarded the warning label and gave the wrong dose.
Memory tricks
- Card clue: Discard hides the word card. Think of tossing a card onto the discard pile.
- Regard clue: Disregard is dis- plus regard. You withhold your regard, meaning your attention.
- Bin or brain: Discard sends it to the bin, and disregard sends it out of your mind.
Frequently asked questions
Do discard and disregard mean the same thing?
No. Discard means to throw something away, while disregard means to ignore or pay no attention to something.
Is disregard a noun?
Yes. As a noun, disregard means a lack of attention or respect, as in a disregard for the rules.
What does please disregard mean in an email?
It means please ignore the message or information, usually because it was sent by mistake or has changed.
Can you discard an idea?
Yes. Discard can be used figuratively to mean reject or abandon an idea or plan.
Is disregard formal?
It is fairly formal, so in everyday speech the word ignore is more common.
Conclusion
The difference in discard vs disregard is simple: discard means to throw something away, and disregard means to ignore it. Pick the word that matches what you want done with the thing, and your writing will be clear and accurate. Share this with someone who mixes these up!