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

Therefore, capital punishment is not considered a penalty for sedition. —David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025

In 1954, 17 Puerto Rican nationalists were convicted or pleaded guilty to sedition charges. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

The White House appears to view such actions as sedition, meaning a rebellion against the government, or an attempt to overthrow it. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

There was Benjamin Franklin Bache (grandson of), founder of the Philadelphia Aurora, who criticized John Adams so much that he was arrested for sedition. —Stuart Heritage, Air Mail, 1 Nov. 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