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subversion

[ suh b-vur-zhuh n, -shuh n ]
/ səbˈvɜr ʒən, -ʃən /
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noun

an act or instance of subverting.
the state of being subverted; destruction.
something that subverts or overthrows.

RELATED WORDS

destruction, sabotage, defeat, revolution, overthrow, disruption

Nearby words

  1. suburbia,
  2. suburbicarian,
  3. subvaginal,
  4. subvene,
  5. subvention,
  6. subversive,
  7. subvert,
  8. subviral,
  9. subvirus,
  10. subvisible

Origin of subversion

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin subversiōn- (stem of subversiō) an overthrowing. See sub-, version
Related formsan·ti·sub·ver·sion, nounnon·sub·ver·sion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for subversion

British Dictionary definitions for subversion

subversion

/ (səbˈvɜːʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of subverting or overthrowing a legally constituted government, institution, etc
the state of being subverted; destruction or ruin
something that brings about an overthrow

Word Origin for subversion

C14: from Late Latin subversiō destruction, from Latin subvertere to subvert
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for subversion

subversion

n.

late 14c., "physical destruction, demolition, ruination," from Old French subversion, from Late Latin subversionem (nominative subversio) "an overthrow, ruin, destruction," from past participle stem of subvertere (see subvert).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper