subversion

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

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

subversionary

play \-zhə-ˌner-ē, -shə-\ adjective

subversive

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

subversively

adverb

subversiveness

noun

See subversion defined for kids

Recent Examples of subversion from the Web

The effort led to a flurry of new, disturbing reports - many of them presented in the President's Daily Brief - about Russia's subversion of the 2016 race.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Obama's secret struggle to punish Russia for Putin's election assault", 23 June 2017
Warmbier was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting North Korea in 2015 and was later convicted of subversion.

— CBS News, "Funeral for Otto Warmbier held in Ohio", 22 June 2017
The already tense dynamic with North Korea intensified after Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old Ohio native held captive in North Korea for 17 months on spurious charges of subversion, was returned home last week in a near-comatose state.

— james rosen, Fox News, "North Korea: Tillerson, Mattis still playing China card with Pyongyang", 21 June 2017
The University of Virginia student was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting with a tour group and was convicted of subversion.

— matthew pennington, chicagotribune.com, "Warmbier's death looms over U.S.-China talks on North Korea today", 21 June 2017
Warmbier was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting with a tour group and was convicted of subversion.

— Bloomberg.com, "U.S. Student Freed by North Korea in a Coma Has Died at 22", 19 June 2017
That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge.

— matthew lee, The Denver Post, "North Korea releases U.S. citizen Otto Warmbier, Tillerson says", 13 June 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. — North Korea has released Otto Warmbier, the American student serving a 15-year prison term with hard labor for alleged subversion, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday.

— hans nichols, NBC News, "Tillerson: North Korea Releases Cincinnati Student Otto Warmbier", 13 June 2017
It was set up in 1940 to foment sabotage and subversion in occupied Europe.

— National Geographic, "Britain's Secret Weapon Against the Nazis? Refugees.", 4 June 2017

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!

First Known Use: 14th century

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

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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