subversion

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

Updated on: 24 Mar 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

Trafficking on the high seas has become what these officials regard as a pernicious subversion of the sanctions.

— chris horton, steven lee myers and michael schwirtz, New York Times, "Trump Rebuked China for North Korea’s Oil Smuggling. It’s More Complicated.," 18 Jan. 2018
People who are more tolerant of chaos, novelty and the occasional whiff of danger or subversion would be drawn to less authoritarian government.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Disgusted by body odor? Why you’re more likely to support Trump," 2 Mar. 2018
In April 2016, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of espionage and subversion.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "While Korean tensions ease, 3 Americans remain ‘prisoners of war’ in the North," 23 Feb. 2018
Were this true, maybe some enterprising gun safety proponents could show up to its meetings, put on nametags, and engage in a bit of clever, low-grade subversion.

— jay willis, GQ, "Could the NRA Be Taken Over from the Inside?," 23 Feb. 2018
Despite the notoriously awful quality of the prose in the three 50 Shades novels (titled the same as the movies) by E. L. James, the smutty subversion of feminist ideology seemed to be the main driver of their popularity.

— kyle smith, National Review, "50 Shades of Political Correctness," 31 Jan. 2018
The Russian subversion of the 2016 election did not, to be sure, kill nearly 3,000 people.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Stop Inflating the Russia Threat," 20 Feb. 2018
But for those who takes a more pared back approach to jewelry, worn alone, the sparkling parting functions as an edgy alternative to a diamond tennis bracelet: Still delicate and elegant, but with a hint of subversion.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "This Crystal-Studded Runway Hair is the Beauty Alternative to a Tennis Bracelet," 18 Feb. 2018
Miriam is arrested at the end of the season — a real subversion for someone who has literally been living in the clouds for hundreds of years, now brought back down to earth.

— josh wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Altered Carbon' Star on the Show's Sensuality: "It's More About Warfare Than True Pleasure"," 13 Feb. 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

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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