Discipline vs. Field — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 6, 2024
Discipline emphasizes a branch of knowledge or learning, often with structured study and practice, while field refers to a broader area of study or professional activity, encompassing various disciplines.
Difference Between Discipline and Field
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Discipline focuses on the systematic study and academic rigor within a specific branch of knowledge, highlighting the methods, theories, and practices that define and govern it. It suggests a formalized approach to learning and research, often within the context of higher education or professional training. Field, conversely, is a more encompassing term that can refer to a wide area of interest or activity, including the sciences, arts, professions, and industries, suggesting a broader, sometimes less defined, scope of inquiry or work.
While disciplines are often characterized by their theoretical foundations, specific methodologies, and academic boundaries, fields can be seen as umbrella terms that cover a range of related disciplines and practices. For example, psychology is a discipline with its own set of theories and practices, while mental health is a field that includes disciplines such as psychology, psychiatry, social work, and counseling.
Disciplines require a depth of expertise, emphasizing mastery, specialization, and often the contribution of new knowledge through research. Fields, however, can be interdisciplinary, allowing for broader exploration, application, and the blending of perspectives from various disciplines. This distinction highlights the difference between specialization within a narrowly defined area of study and engagement across a wider, sometimes more practical, spectrum of activities.
The terminology used to describe academic and professional landscapes reflects the organization of knowledge and expertise. Disciplines are foundational to the structure of universities, professional associations, and journals, whereas fields may transcend these structures, influencing industry standards, professional practices, and public policy.
In practical terms, individuals may pursue education and careers within specific disciplines, acquiring deep knowledge and specialized skills, while they may work within fields that require a broader, more integrative approach to solving problems, developing technologies, or creating policies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Focus
Specific branch of knowledge, with structured study and practice.
Broad area of study or professional activity, encompassing disciplines.
Characterization
Theoretical foundations, methodologies, academic boundaries.
Interdisciplinary, practical applications, broader exploration.
Purpose
Mastery, specialization, contribution of new knowledge.
Broader exploration, application, blending of perspectives.
Example
Psychology - a discipline with specific theories and practices.
Mental health - a field that includes psychology, psychiatry, etc.
Context
Universities, professional training, academic research.
Industries, professions, policy-making, cross-disciplinary work.
Compare with Definitions
Discipline
A branch of knowledge, typically one studied in higher education.
Philosophy as a discipline challenges students to think critically.
Field
The environment or context in which one works or studies.
She has been working in the field of environmental science for a decade.
Discipline
Specialized academic and practical knowledge in a particular area.
The discipline of linguistics explores the structure and function of language.
Field
A broad area of study or professional activity.
Renewable energy is a growing field with diverse technological challenges.
Discipline
Rigorous training or adherence to rules and standards.
The discipline of daily practice is essential for mastering the piano.
Field
Areas of practical application or operation outside of theoretical study.
Engineers often test their theories in the field to solve real-world problems.
Discipline
The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior.
Military discipline is renowned for its strictness and effectiveness.
Field
A physical or virtual space where a particular activity occurs.
The archaeological field team uncovered ancient artifacts.
Discipline
A field of study within a broader subject area.
Oncology is a discipline within the medical field focusing on cancer treatment.
Field
A particular branch that one’s work or interests belong to.
His field of expertise is in computational linguistics.
Discipline
Discipline is action or inaction that is regulated to be in accordance (or to achieve accord) with a particular system of governance. Discipline is commonly applied to regulating human and animal behavior to its society or environment it belongs.
Field
A broad, level, open expanse of land.
Discipline
Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement
Was raised in the strictest discipline.
Field
A meadow
Cows grazing in a field.
Discipline
Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order
Military discipline.
Field
A cultivated expanse of land, especially one devoted to a particular crop
A field of corn.
Discipline
Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control
Dieting takes a lot of discipline.
Field
A portion of land or a geologic formation containing a specified natural resource
A copper field.
Discipline
A state of order based on submission to rules and authority
A teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.
Field
A wide unbroken expanse, as of ice.
Discipline
Punishment intended to correct or train
Subjected to harsh discipline.
Field
A battleground.
Discipline
A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
Field
(Archaic) A battle.
Discipline
A branch of knowledge or teaching
The discipline of mathematics.
Field
The scene or an area of military operations or maneuvers
Officers in the field.
Discipline
To train by instruction and practice, as in following rules or developing self-control
The sergeant disciplined the recruits to become soldiers.
Field
A background area, as on a flag, painting, or coin
A blue insignia on a field of red.
Discipline
To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience.
Field
(Heraldry) The background of a shield or one of the divisions of the background.
Discipline
To impose order on
Needed to discipline their study habits.
Field
An area or setting of practical activity or application outside an office, school, factory, or laboratory
Biologists working in the field.
A product tested in the field.
Discipline
A controlled behaviour; self-control.
Field
An area or region where business activities are conducted
Sales representatives in the field.
Discipline
An enforced compliance or control.
Field
An area in which an athletic event takes place, especially the area inside or near to a running track, where field events are held.
Discipline
A systematic method of obtaining obedience.
Field
In baseball, the positions on defense or the ability to play defense
She excels in the field.
Discipline
A state of order based on submission to authority.
Field
In baseball, one of the three sections of the outfield
He can hit to any field.
Discipline
A set of rules regulating behaviour.
Field
A range, area, or subject of human activity, interest, or knowledge
Several fields of endeavor.
Discipline
A punishment to train or maintain control.
Field
The contestants or participants in a competition or athletic event, especially those other than the favorite or winner.
Discipline
A specific branch of knowledge or learning.
Field
The body of riders following a pack of hounds in hunting.
Discipline
A category in which a certain art, sport or other activity belongs.
Field
The people running in an election for a political office
The field has been reduced to three candidates.
Discipline
(transitive) To train someone by instruction and practice.
Field
(Mathematics) A set of elements having two operations, designated addition and multiplication, satisfying the conditions that multiplication is distributive over addition, that the set is a group under addition, and that the elements with the exception of the additive identity form a group under multiplication.
Discipline
(transitive) To teach someone to obey authority.
Field
(Physics) A physical quantity in a region of space, such as gravitational force or fluid pressure, having a distinct value (scalar, vector, or tensor) at each point.
Discipline
(transitive) To punish someone in order to (re)gain control.
Field
The usually circular area in which the image is rendered by the lens system of an optical instrument; field of view.
Discipline
(transitive) To impose order on someone.
Field
An element of a database record in which one piece of information is stored.
Discipline
The treatment suited to a disciple or learner; education; development of the faculties by instruction and exercise; training, whether physical, mental, or moral.
Wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity.
Discipline aims at the removal of bad habits and the substitution of good ones, especially those of order, regularity, and obedience.
Field
A space, as on an online form or request for information, that accepts the input of text
An address field.
Discipline
Training to act in accordance with established rules; accustoming to systematic and regular action; drill.
Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part,Obey the rules and discipline of art.
Field
Growing, cultivated, or living in fields or open land.
Discipline
Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order and control; habit of obedience.
The most perfect, who have their passions in the best discipline, are yet obliged to be constantly on their guard.
Field
Made, used, or carried on in the field
Field operations.
Discipline
Severe training, corrective of faults; instruction by means of misfortune, suffering, punishment, etc.
A sharp discipline of half a century had sufficed to educate us.
Field
Working, operating, or active in the field
Field representatives of a firm.
Discipline
Correction; chastisement; punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
Giving her the discipline of the strap.
Field
(Sports) To catch or pick up (a ball) and often make a throw to another player, especially in baseball.
Discipline
The subject matter of instruction; a branch of knowledge.
Field
To respond to or deal with
Fielded tough questions from the press.
Discipline
The enforcement of methods of correction against one guilty of ecclesiastical offenses; reformatory or penal action toward a church member.
Field
(Sports) To place in the playing area
Field a team.
Discipline
Self-inflicted and voluntary corporal punishment, as penance, or otherwise; specifically, a penitential scourge.
Field
To nominate in an election
Field a candidate.
Discipline
A system of essential rules and duties; as, the Romish or Anglican discipline.
Field
To put into action; deploy
Field an army of campaign workers.
Discipline
To educate; to develop by instruction and exercise; to train.
Field
To enter (data) into a field.
Discipline
To accustom to regular and systematic action; to bring under control so as to act systematically; to train to act together under orders; to teach subordination to; to form a habit of obedience in; to drill.
Ill armed, and worse disciplined.
His mind . . . imperfectly disciplined by nature.
Field
To play as a fielder
How well can he field?.
Discipline
To improve by corrective and penal methods; to chastise; to correct.
Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?
Field
A land area free of woodland, cities, and towns; an area of open country.
There are several species of wild flowers growing in this field.
Discipline
To inflict ecclesiastical censures and penalties upon.
Field
The open country near or belonging to a town or city.
Discipline
A branch of knowledge;
In what discipline is his doctorate?
Teachers should be well trained in their subject
Anthropology is the study of human beings
Field
A wide, open space that is used to grow crops or to hold farm animals, usually enclosed by a fence, hedge or other barrier.
There were some cows grazing in a field.
A crop circle was made in a corn field.
Discipline
A system of rules of conduct or method of practice;
He quickly learned the discipline of prison routine
For such a plan to work requires discipline
Field
(geology) A region containing a particular mineral.
An oil field; a gold field
Discipline
The trait of being well behaved;
He insisted on discipline among the troops
Field
An airfield, airport or air base; especially, one with unpaved runways.
Discipline
Training to improve strength or self-control
Field
A place where competitive matches are carried out.
Discipline
The act of punishing;
The offenders deserved the harsh discipline they received
Field
A place where a battle is fought; a battlefield.
Discipline
Train by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control;
Parents must discipline their children
Is this dog trained?
Field
An area reserved for playing a game or race with one’s physical force.
Soccer field
Substitutes are only allowed onto the field after their boots are checked.
Discipline
Punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience;
The teacher disciplined the pupils rather frequently
Field
A place where competitive matches are carried out with figures, or playing area in a board game or a computer game.
Field
A competitive situation, circumstances in which one faces conflicting moves of rivals.
Field
(metonymically) All of the competitors in any outdoor contest or trial, or all except the favourites in the betting.
This racehorse is the strongest in a weak field.
Field
Any of various figurative meanings, often dead metaphors.
Field
(physics) A physical phenomenon (such as force, potential or fluid velocity) that pervades a region; a mathematical model of such a phenomenon that associates each point and time with a scalar, vector or tensor quantity.
Magnetic field; gravitational field; scalar field
Field
Any of certain structures serving cognition.
Field
A physical or virtual location for the input of information in the form of symbols.
Field
Part (usually one half) of a frame in an interlaced signal
Field
To intercept or catch (a ball) and play it.
Field
To be the team catching and throwing the ball, as opposed to hitting it.
The blue team are fielding first, while the reds are batting.
Field
To place a team, its players, etc. in a game.
The away team fielded two new players and the second-choice goalkeeper.
Field
(transitive) To answer; to address.
She will field questions immediately after her presentation.
Field
(transitive) To defeat.
They fielded a fearsome army.
Field
(transitive) To execute research (in the field).
He fielded the marketing survey about the upcoming product.
Field
To deploy in the field.
To field a new land-mine detector
Field
Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; the open country.
Field
A piece of land of considerable size; esp., a piece inclosed for tillage or pasture.
Fields which promise corn and wine.
Field
A place where a battle is fought; also, the battle itself.
In this glorious and well-foughten field.
What though the field be lost?
Field
An open space; an extent; an expanse.
Without covering, save yon field of stars.
Ask of yonder argent fields above.
Field
The whole surface of an escutcheon; also, so much of it is shown unconcealed by the different bearings upon it. See Illust. of Fess, where the field is represented as gules (red), while the fess is argent (silver).
Field
An unresticted or favorable opportunity for action, operation, or achievement; province; room.
Afforded a clear field for moral experiments.
Field
A collective term for all the competitors in any outdoor contest or trial, or for all except the favorites in the betting.
Field
That part of the grounds reserved for the players which is outside of the diamond; - called also outfield.
Field
To take the field.
Field
To stand out in the field, ready to catch, stop, or throw the ball.
Field
To catch, stop, throw, etc. (the ball), as a fielder.
Field
A piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed;
He planted a field of wheat
Field
A region where a battle is being (or has been) fought;
They made a tour of Civil War battlefields
Field
Somewhere (away from a studio or office or library or laboratory) where practical work is done or data is collected;
Anthropologists do much of their work in the field
Field
A branch of knowledge;
In what discipline is his doctorate?
Teachers should be well trained in their subject
Anthropology is the study of human beings
Field
The space around a radiating body within which its electromagnetic oscillations can exert force on another similar body not in contact with it
Field
A particular kind of commercial enterprise;
They are outstanding in their field
Field
A particular environment or walk of life;
His social sphere is limited
It was a closed area of employment
He's out of my orbit
Field
A piece of land prepared for playing a game;
The home crowd cheered when Princeton took the field
Field
Extensive tract of level open land;
They emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain
He longed for the fields of his youth
Field
(mathematics) a set of elements such that addition and multiplication are commutative and associative and multiplication is distributive over addition and there are two elements 0 and 1;
The set of all rational numbers is a field
Field
A region in which active military operations are in progress;
The army was in the field awaiting action
He served in the Vietnam theater for three years
Field
All of the horses in a particular horse race
Field
All the competitors in a particular contest or sporting event
Field
A geographic region (land or sea) under which something valuable is found;
The diamond fields of South Africa
Field
(computer science) a set of one or more adjacent characters comprising a unit of information
Field
The area that is visible (as through an optical instrument)
Field
A place where planes take off and land
Field
Catch or pick up (balls) in baseball or cricket
Field
Play as a fielder
Field
Answer adequately or successfully;
The lawyer fielded all questions from the press
Field
Select (a team or individual player) for a game;
The Patriots fielded a young new quarterback for the Rose Bowl
Common Curiosities
How do disciplines contribute to the development of a field?
Disciplines provide the foundational knowledge, methodologies, and specialized expertise that drive innovation and progress within a field.
Can a discipline also be a field?
Yes, terms can overlap; a discipline might be referred to as a field when emphasizing its broader application or interdisciplinary nature.
Is it necessary to choose between studying a discipline or a field?
Not necessarily; education often involves studying specific disciplines within the context of broader fields, blending theoretical knowledge with practical applications.
How does technology influence the development of disciplines and fields?
Technology can drive the creation of new disciplines and expand fields by enabling new ways of solving problems, conducting research, and applying knowledge.
How does working in a field differ from studying a discipline?
Working in a field may involve applying knowledge from multiple disciplines, requiring broader understanding and flexibility, whereas studying a discipline focuses on depth within a specific area of knowledge.
How are new disciplines formed?
New disciplines can emerge from the evolution of existing ones, the intersection of fields, or the identification of new areas of study and research.
Why is interdisciplinary work important in fields?
Interdisciplinary work brings together perspectives and expertise from various disciplines to address complex problems, fostering innovation and comprehensive solutions.
Can a professional work across multiple fields?
Yes, professionals often work across multiple fields, especially in roles requiring interdisciplinary knowledge and skills.
What role do professional organizations play in disciplines and fields?
Professional organizations set standards, facilitate research, promote education, and provide a community for professionals within specific disciplines and fields.
What impact do global challenges have on disciplines and fields?
Global challenges can reshape disciplines and fields by shifting priorities, focusing research and development on urgent needs, and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Wave vs. Current
Next Comparison
Knuckleball vs. CurveballAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
