discourse
Americannoun
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communication of thought by words; talk; conversation.
earnest and intelligent discourse.
- Synonyms:
- parley, chat, dialogue, colloquy, discussion
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a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.
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Linguistics. any unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.
verb (used without object)
-
to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.
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to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.
verb (used with object)
noun
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verbal communication; talk; conversation
-
a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation
-
a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence
-
archaic the ability to reason or the reasoning process
verb
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(intr; often foll by on or upon) to speak or write (about) formally and extensively
-
(intr) to hold a discussion
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archaic (tr) to give forth (music)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has discoursedperfect 3rd person singular
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have discoursedperfect
-
are discoursingprogressive
-
have been discoursingperfect progressive
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is discoursingprogressive 3rd person singular
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discoursessingular 3rd person
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am discoursingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been discoursingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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discoursingparticiple
Past
-
had discoursedperfect
-
had been discoursingperfect progressive
-
were discoursingprogressive plural
-
discoursedsimple
-
discoursedparticiple
-
was discoursingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of discourse
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English discours, from Medieval Latin discursus (spelling by influence of Middle English cours “course”), Late Latin: “conversation,” Latin: “a run back and forth,” noun use of past participle of discurrere “to run about,” from dis- dis- 1 + currere “to run”
Explanation
If you use the word discourse, you are describing a formal and intense discussion or debate. The noun discourse comes from the Latin discursus to mean "an argument." But luckily, that kind of argument does not mean people fighting or coming to blows. The argument in discourse refers to an exchange of ideas — sometimes heated — that often follows a kind of order and give-and-take between the participants. It's the kind of argument and discussion that teachers love, so discourse away!
Vocabulary lists containing discourse
Othello
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Rhetoric
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Grade 11, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Appeared in the February 21, 2026, print edition as 'These Schools Want to Foster Civil Discourse On Campus.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026
"We are also supporting new initiatives such as the Digital Discourse Initiative, which provides teachers with practical strategies and curriculum tools to support staff to counter the effects of online hate and disinformation."
From BBC • May 2, 2025
Discourse was different: That word eventually meant conversation, but its Latin ancestor was discursus, “the action of running off in different directions.”
From Salon • Feb. 9, 2025
Discourse surrounding Elagabalus’ gender identity has been around for a long time and is often divisive between academics.
From Washington Times • Nov. 23, 2023
Descartes’ remarkable and novel claim, first stated in the Discourse on Method, was that animals are automata, that is, complex, self-moving machines.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
