dissension
dih-SEN-shun
/dɪˈsɛnʃən/
Disagreement that leads to discord within a group or organization.
Dissension is internal. It’s the kind of disagreement that breaks apart a team, a political party, or a family from the inside.
The story behind the word. From 'dis-' (apart) and 'sentire' (to feel). It literally means 'feeling apart' from the rest of the group.
Word relationships
- discord: Discord is the lack of harmony; dissension is the active disagreement causing that lack.
- unity: The state of being joined together or in agreement.
Commonly confused with
- dissent: Dissent is the act of holding a different opinion; dissension is the conflict that results from it.
Word family
- dissent (verb): To hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously or commonly held.
Collocations
- sow dissension
- internal dissension
- civil dissension
Example sentences
- "The new policy sowed seeds of dissension among the faculty members." Describing a fractured organization.
Memory hook
Dissension is when the 'sen' (sense) of the group is 'dis' (broken). Dissension: Feeling apart.
When not to use
Not used for an argument between two strangers; it implies a pre-existing unity that is now being broken.
Fun facts
- In historical texts, 'dissension' was often used to describe the religious schisms of the Reformation.
Related words
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