discord
DIS-kord
/ˈdɪs.kɔːrd/
Lack of agreement or harmony between people or things.
Often used to describe a general atmosphere of unpleasantness or musical notes that don't sound good together.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'discordia.' It literally means 'hearts apart.' When there is discord, people's hearts are not beating in rhythm with one another.
Word relationships
- strife: Strife is more active and violent; discord is the underlying lack of harmony.
- accord: Accord is agreement; discord is the lack of it.
Commonly confused with
- discourse: Discourse is a conversation or speech; discord is a disagreement.
Word family
- discordant (adjective): Harsh or jarring in sound; disagreeing.
Collocations
- sow discord
- marital discord
- civil discord
Idioms & expressions
- apple of discord
Example sentences
- "With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Confusion worse confounded; and Discord with a thousand various mouths." Literature citation.
- "The new policy sowed seeds of discord among the faculty members." Social observation.
Memory hook
Discord = Dis (apart) + Cord (heart/chord). Hearts are apart, and the musical chord is broken. Hearts apart.
When not to use
Not for a specific, logical argument; it's more about the feeling of disharmony.
Fun facts
- In Greek mythology, Eris was the goddess of Discord; she started the Trojan War by tossing a golden apple labeled 'to the fairest' into a party.
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