subversion

noun

sub·​ver·​sion səb-ˈvər-zhən 

-shən

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

səb-ˈvər-zhə-ˌner-ē 

-shə-

adjective

subversive

səb-ˈvər-siv 

-ziv

adjective or noun

subversively adverb

subversiveness noun

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.

Examples of subversion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2020, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong, introducing the maximum sentence of life imprisonment for four main crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. —Chris Lau, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025

Smith continued investigating unindicted co-conspirators after charging Trump As part of the 2020 election subversion probe, federal investigators interviewed more than 250 witnesses and brought more than 55 people to testify before a grand jury, according to the report. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2025

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) has requested access to special counsel Jack Smith’s case file for his 2020 election subversion prosecution of President-elect Trump, citing her case against several of his allies. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is urging his state's highest court to reject an appeal of a recent decision to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from President-elect Donald Trump's 2020 Georgia election subversion criminal case. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing subversion

• anti-subversion

Rhymes for subversion

• aspersion
• aversion
• conversion
• dispersion
• diversion
• eversion
• excursion
• immersion
• incursion
• inversion
• perversion
• recursion

Kids Definition

subversion

noun

sub·​ver·​sion səb-ˈvər-zhən 

: the act of overthrowing : the state of being overthrown

especially : an attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly within the country involved

subversive

-ˈvər-siv 

-ziv

adjective or noun

subversively adverb

Legal Definition

subversion

noun

sub·​ver·​sion səb-ˈvər-zhən 

: 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

subversionary

-zhə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

subversive

-ˈvər-siv 

adjective or noun

subversively adverb

subversiveness noun