subversion

1 of 2

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

subversive

2 of 2

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

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 was the Ginsberg who was hip with his radically earnest embrace of principles, an aesthetic of subversion. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Three former vigil organizers were charged in 2021 with inciting subversion under the national security law. —ABC News, 3 June 2026

But behind the feminist statement and clever subversion, something else happened. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 May 2026

Leaflets, filled with anti-government propaganda, soon emerged as the group’s newest, and boldest, tactic at subversion. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

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