Separate; distinct; individual; non-continuous.
"The teacher divided the class into discrete groups to work on separate projects."
In plain English: Discrete means separate and distinct, with clear boundaries between each individual part.
"The company stores each transaction in its own discrete file to keep customer data secure."
Usage: Use discrete to describe separate, countable items that are clearly defined and not blended together, such as distinct data points or individual tasks. Avoid confusing it with continuous concepts where elements flow into one another without clear boundaries.
The word discrete comes from the Old French discret and originally the Latin discrētus, meaning "divided." It is related to the verb discernō, which means to sift or divide.