subversion

noun

sub·​ver·​sion səb-ˈvər-zhən 

-shən

1

: the act of subverting : the state of being subverted

especially : a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly from within

2

obsolete : a cause of overthrow or destruction

subversionary

səb-ˈvər-zhə-ˌner-ē 

-shə-

adjective

subversive

səb-ˈvər-siv 

-ziv

adjective or noun

subversively adverb

subversiveness noun

Did you know?

Subversion is literally the "turning over" of something. In the 1950s and '60s, many people worried about communist subversion of the U.S. government, though they often saw subversive activities where none existed. Nondemocratic governments often claim that anyone who disagrees with them or joins a demonstration is a subversive. But subversion isn't always quite so serious a matter; when words like weekend, sandwich, job, *and *camping started being used by the French, for example, some of them began claiming that America was subverting their language.

Examples of subversion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Trump’s federal election subversion case, Smith filed a massive court filing last month laying out the framework of the future of his case within the new confines of the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024

Smith, who has led two cases against Trump since he was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, is said to be planning to halt the 2020 election subversion case and the classified documents case against Trump in light of Trump’s decisive presidential victory. —Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Nov. 2024

On Thursday, Smith filed a response to Trump's motion, urging U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the election subversion case, to find that Trump's motion had been filed after a deadline and that the opinions of neither Thomas nor Cannon should have any bearing on the case. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Federal election interference case In the shadow of the presidential race, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has been considering how Trump's federal election subversion case should proceed in light of the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, which delayed the case for nearly a year. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin subversion-, subversio, from Latin subvertere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing subversion

• anti-subversion

Kids Definition

subversion

noun

sub·​ver·​sion səb-ˈvər-zhən 

: the act of overthrowing : the state of being overthrown

especially : an attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly within the country involved

subversive

-ˈvər-siv 

-ziv

adjective or noun

subversively adverb

Legal Definition

subversion

noun

sub·​ver·​sion səb-ˈvər-zhən 

: a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working from within

also : the crime of committing acts in furtherance of such an attempt

subversionary

-zhə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

subversive

-ˈvər-siv 

adjective or noun

subversively adverb

subversiveness noun