subversion

noun sub·ver·sion \ səb-ˈvər-zhən , -shən \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Definition of subversion

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

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subversionary

play \səb-ˈvər-zhə-ˌner-ē, -shə-\ adjective

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subversive

play \səb-ˈvər-siv, -ziv\ adjective or noun

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subversively

adverb

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subversiveness

noun

See subversion defined for kids

Recent Examples of subversion from the Web

So where did this latest fashion subversion come from?

— samuel hine, GQ, "The Daring New Trend in Pants Is…Shorts," 2 July 2018
Presumably this resulted from Catholic subversion of public education.

— Longreads, "Oregon’s Racist Past," 12 July 2018
In other words, the very beginning of the Bible represents a literary subversion of the binary trope Peterson insists has defined human culture.

— tara isabella burton, Vox, "The religious hunger that drives Jordan Peterson’s fandom," 1 June 2018
The subversion of America’s immigration laws is a phenomenon that Americans of all races can recognize as a legitimate policy problem.

— eric leivtz, Daily Intelligencer, "For Democrats, Immigration Is a Political Problem Without a Policy Solution," 2 July 2018
Not to mention, a bleached set of brows that added a hint of subversion.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "This Model Chopped Off 3 Feet Hair for the Miu Miu Runway—and She’s Almost Unrecognizable," 1 July 2018
Like jokes on red MAGA hats, no amount of subversion here makes up for the bummer that is spending extra hours with Donald Trump.

— dan jakes, Chicago Reader, "The Deckchairs can't make American political comedy great again," 15 June 2018
Ukraine is still trying to defend itself against Russia’s real aggression in the east of the country and Western governments are trying to support it while fending off Russia’s disinformation and subversion.

— The Economist, "Plots and sackings in Ukraine," 31 May 2018
Many of its tools of subversion date to the early days of the Absurdists and the mind games of Pirandello and Ionesco, while others — more technologically sophisticated — are staples of the contemporary European avant-garde.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Review: Theater as Sabotage in the Dazzling ‘Fairview’," 17 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subversion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of subversion

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Law Dictionary

subversion

noun sub·ver·sion \ səb-ˈvər-zhən \

legal Definition of subversion

: 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

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