sedition
suh-DISH-un
/sɪˈdɪʃən/
Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
Sedition is often about the 'spark'—the words or pamphlets that lead to a fire, rather than the fire itself.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'seditionem', meaning 'a going aside' or 'separation'. It originally described a group of people literally walking away from the community to form their own rebellious faction.
Word relationships
- incitement: Incitement is a general term for encouraging any crime; sedition is specifically encouraging rebellion against the state.
- pacification: Pacification is the act of quelling anger or excitement, the opposite of inciting rebellion.
Commonly confused with
- insurrection: Sedition is the talk; insurrection is the walk (the actual uprising).
Word family
- seditious (adjective): Inciting or causing people to rebel against authority.
Collocations
- incite sedition
- seditious libel
- charged with sedition
Example sentences
- "The Sedition Act of 1798 made it a crime to write, print, utter, or publish any false, scandalous and malicious writing against the government." Historical context regarding the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Memory hook
Sedition is like a 'Said-Addition'—adding words to cause trouble. The speech that starts the riot.
When not to use
Avoid using this for physical acts of violence; use 'insurrection' or 'rebellion' for the actual fighting.
Fun facts
- In many modern democracies, sedition laws have been repealed or narrowed to protect free speech.
Related words
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