sedition
Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
Sedition is a legal term. It refers specifically to the incitement of rebellion (through words, speeches, or writings) rather than the physical act of rebellion itself. It is the step that leads to treason.
Word relationships
- incitement: Incitement is a general term for encouraging any illegal act, while sedition is specifically encouraging rebellion against the state.
- treason: Treason is the actual physical act of betraying one's country (like aiding an enemy), whereas sedition is the speech or writing that promotes such betrayal.
- loyalty: Loyalty is a strong feeling of support or allegiance to a government or sovereign.
- patriotism: Patriotism is devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.
Commonly confused with
- sedation: Sedation is the administration of a drug to calm or put someone to sleep, while sedition is inciting political unrest.
Word family
- seditious (adjective): Inciting or causing people to rebel against authority.
Collocations
- incite sedition
- charged with sedition
- seditious conspiracy
- seditious libel
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." A historical law passed in the early United States.
Memory hook
Think of 'sedition' as 'said-ish-on'—words said to turn the rebellion on. Sedition is speech that starts a rebellion.
When not to use
Do not use sedition to describe a physical fight or battle. Sedition is about the words and ideas that spark the fight.
Fun facts
- In many modern democracies, sedition laws have been repealed or heavily restricted because they often clash with the constitutional right to free speech.
Explore more words
incite, insurrection, treason, subversion, conspiracy, suborn
Also appears in
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