discourse

American  

[dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs] / ˈdɪs kɔrs, -koʊrs, dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs, dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs /

noun

1. communication of thought by words; talk; conversation.

   earnest and intelligent discourse.

   Synonyms:

   parley, chat, dialogue, colloquy, discussion

2. a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.

3. Linguistics. any unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.

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verb (used without object)

discoursed, discoursing

1. to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.

2. to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.

verb (used with object)

discoursed, discoursing

1. to utter or give forth (musical sounds).

discourse British  

noun

1. verbal communication; talk; conversation

2. a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation

3. a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence

4. archaic the ability to reason or the reasoning process

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verb

1. (intr; often foll by on or upon) to speak or write (about) formally and extensively

2. (intr) to hold a discussion

3. archaic (tr) to give forth (music)

Other Word Forms

• discourser noun
• prediscourse noun

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!

Example Sentences

We live in a world where people don’t even bother to look out the window in the morning before picking up their phones, ready to get online and join in whatever discourse the day’s generating.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

Our Founding Fathers respected public discourse and public demonstrations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The Bible Society's "Quiet Revival" report had been widely reported on since its publication last year and became an accepted part of discourse among many Christians.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

With the tagline “Not Just Politics as Usual,” the magazine married pop culture and politics in an unprecedented way and aimed to flip the script on mainstream political discourse.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

It’s better to understand a few principles that govern time, tense, and discourse than to try to memorize a list of regulations that are tailored to the sequence-of-tense phenomenon itself.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• communication
• conversation
• discussion
• essay
• lecture
• monologue
• rhetoric
• speech
• treatise