sedition

[ si-dish-uhn ]

noun

1. incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government.

   Synonyms: mutiny, insurrection

2. any action, especially in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion.
3. Archaic. rebellious disorder.

sedition

/ sɪˈdɪʃən /

noun

1. speech or behaviour directed against the peace of a state
2. an offence that tends to undermine the authority of a state
3. an incitement to public disorder
4. archaic.
   revolt

sedition

1. Acts that incite rebellion or civil disorder against an established government.

Derived Forms

• seˈditionary, nounadjective

Other Words From

• anti·se·dition adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedition¹

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin sēditiōn-, stem of sēditiō “rebellion, strife,” literally “a going apart,” from sēd- se- + itiō “a going” (from it(us) “gone,” past participle of īre “to go” + -iō -ion ); replacing Middle English sedicioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedition¹

C14: from Latin sēditiō discord, from sēd- apart + itiō a going, from īre to go

Synonym Study

See treason.

Example Sentences

So does his comment about treason, which plugs into the mentality of those accusing the President of sedition and disloyalty.

From The Daily Beast

I refer to the Alien and Sedition Acts, signed into law by President John Adams in 1798.

From The Daily Beast

Nor do members of Congress with close NRA ties who scare the populace and encourage sedition face any consequences.

From The Daily Beast

Kamhawi is facing sedition charges from the nervous regime for, as he puts it, “saying what I am saying to you.”

From The Daily Beast

Waited to hear what she would make, even at this early hearing, of the charge he faced: sedition.

From The Daily Beast

There was little reason to hope that this, the third city in India, should not yield readily to sedition-mongers.

From Project Gutenberg

John Smith was later charged with sedition, acquitted, and finally restored to his rightful council position.

From Project Gutenberg

No one knows better than I that it is, at the present moment, honeycombed with sedition and anarchical impulses.

From Project Gutenberg

He ascribed the measures taken to repress sedition and defeat the French propaganda as attempts at tyranny.

From Project Gutenberg

The sedition cases were mostly heard before the lord-justice clerk Braxfield, who behaved with scandalous harshness and severity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• insubordination
• insurrection
• mutiny
• treason