sedition

noun

se·​di·​tion si-ˈdi-shən 

: incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

Example Sentences

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

Recent Examples on the Web

On today's 5 Things podcast, hear the latest from the Proud Boys sedition trial. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2023

Planned defense witness in Proud Boys sedition trial revealed as a government informant. —Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2023

The authorities used a colonial-era sedition law to send the two book owners to prison, rather than leaning on the more recent draconian national security law enacted in 2020. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2023

Kubota was sentenced on Wednesday to three years for sedition and seven years for the communications charges, according to Tetsuo Kitada, the deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar, citing a lawyer representing the filmmaker’s case. —Emiko Jozuka, CNN, 6 Oct. 2022

Leaders and others from the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys face rare sedition charges over their roles in the Capitol attack. —Lisa Mascaro And, BostonGlobe.com, 16 June 2022

Four other Oath Keepers have pleaded guilty to sedition, while three other members were acquitted of that charge but convicted of lesser felonies. —Peter Weber, The Week, 20 Mar. 2023

Military officials confiscated the regiments’ phones and arrested two troopers for sedition. —David Axe, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023

But prosecutors argue that his actions leading up the insurrection are tantamount to sedition. —Will Carless, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2023

See More

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

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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