disquisition
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disquisition
1595–1605; < Latin disquīsītiōn- (stem of disquīsītiō ), equivalent to disquīsīt ( us ) (past participle of disquīrere to investigate; dis- dis- 1 + quaerere to seek, ask) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Disquisition is a long and elaborate word to describe a long and elaborate analysis of a given topic. If you launch into a disquisition about toe jam at a party, you'll soon be talking to a wall. If you write a paper that looks at every single aspect of a topic, that essay can be called a disquisition. If you have a strong interest in something, chances are your friends and family have heard you give passionate disquisitions on it. A disquisition is an incredibly thorough reporting on a topic. Think of it as a discourse or a discussion of an inquisition or long investigation.
Vocabulary lists containing disquisition
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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.
Ben manages to turn this mild inquiry into a long disquisition on her selfishness and disdain for his work.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
The judges said: "A novel about class ascension and a man who is remarkably detached from his desires, and a disquisition on the art of being alive. It is also an absolute page-turner."
From BBC • Sep. 23, 2025
These were packaged with a disquisition on the Second Amendment by David Raney, a history professor at Hillsdale College, who also led the session.
From Slate • Feb. 28, 2023
Rather, Lelio and his co-writers have made a smart, subtle disquisition on the necessity of both skepticism and faith, with a particularly keen understanding of religion’s uses and abuses.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2022
What we got, however, was an elaborate disquisition on the history and architecture of the Capitol and a look at the official china patterns produced for the Senate, followed by a polite and chitchatty lunch.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
