sedition

noun

se·​di·​tion si-ˈdi-shən 

: incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

Examples of sedition in a Sentence

The leaders of the group have been arrested and charged with sedition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s reign of terror recalls a shameful chapter in our history: The alien and sedition acts of 1798, under which journalists were jailed for criticizing President John Adams. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025

In traditional dictatorships, critics are often charged with crimes such as sedition, treason, or plotting insurrection, but contemporary autocrats tend to prosecute critics for more mundane offenses, such as corruption, tax evasion, defamation, and even minor violations of arcane rules. —Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025

Nearly 1,600 defendants were charged in the riot, and only 10 were convicted of sedition. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025

Callender was convicted of sedition and jailed in the spring of 1800. —Marianne Holdzkom, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sedicioun, from Anglo-French sediciun, from Latin sedition-, seditio, literally, separation, from sed-, se- apart + ition-, itio act of going, from ire to go — more at secede, issue entry 1

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sedition

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

sedition

noun

se·​di·​tion si-ˈdish-ən 

: the stirring up of feelings against lawful authority

Legal Definition

sedition

noun

se·​di·​tion si-ˈdi-shən 

: the crime of creating a revolt, disturbance, or violence against lawful civil authority with the intent to cause its overthrow or destruction compare criminal syndicalism, sabotage

seditious

-shəs 

adjective

seditiously adverb

Etymology

Latin seditio, literally, separation, from sed apart + itio act of going, from ire to go