discovery
The discovery of penicillin revolutionized medicine.
The finding of penicillin changed medical treatments forever.
The act of finding or learning something for the first time
Scientists celebrated their discovery of a new species.
Scientists were happy about finding a species no one had seen before.
The discovery of oil transformed the local economy.
Finding oil completely changed how the area made money.
Often used in scientific, historical, or personal contexts to describe the moment of first encountering something.
Something that is found or learned for the first time
The discovery of the lost city amazed archaeologists.
The finding of the ancient city surprised researchers.
Can refer to tangible objects (e.g., a planet) or intangible knowledge (e.g., a mathematical theorem).
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Pro Tip
Use 'discovery' for formal contexts
Prefer 'discovery' in academic writing or professional reports (e.g., 'The discovery of the vaccine was groundbreaking.'). In casual speech, 'finding' or 'discovering' may sound more natural (e.g., 'I made a cool discovery today!').
Gold Rule
Avoid redundancy
Don't pair 'discovery' with 'new' unless emphasizing novelty (e.g., 'a new discovery' is fine, but 'a brand-new discovery' is redundant).
Word Origin
From Latin *discoverire* (to uncover), combining *dis-* (opposite of) and *cooperire* (to cover). Entered English in the 16th century via Old French *descouvrir*.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in academic, scientific, and journalistic contexts. Often implies a sense of surprise or importance. Avoid overusing in informal speech—'finding' or 'discovering' may sound more natural in casual conversation.