subversion

1 of 3

noun (1)

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

subversive

2 of 3

adjective

sub·​ver·​sive |s|iv 

|ēv also |z| or |əv

: tending to subvert : having a tendency to overthrow, upset, or destroy

hypocrisy is a vice subversive of manhood

especially : intended to cause the overthrow of a government by unlawful means

subversively

|ə̇vlē, 

-li

adverb

subversiveness

|ivnə̇s, 

|ēv- also |əv-

noun

plural -es

subversive

3 of 3

noun (2)

"

plural -s

: a person engaged in subversive activities or planning or attempting to subvert legally constituted authority especially by the employment of unconstitutional means

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

Noun

This Friday, the leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance who organized those vigils — Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho — will be sentenced for incitement to subversion. — Rowena He, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026

Part bildungsroman, part romance, Doran’s fizzy yet intelligent interpretation is as self-assured as its protagonist, with anachronistic flourishes that pay homage to Sybylla’s spirit of subversion. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026

Mann delivers a fascinating subversion of the genre, anchored by a riveting Caan performance and some of the most specific set design and camerawork of the director’s career. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Wong is already in prison, serving a sentence of 4 years and 8 months, after pleading guilty in a landmark subversion trial in 2024. — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Adjective

Latin subversus (past participle of subvertere) + English -ive

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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