discourse

1 of 2

noun

dis·​course ˈdi-ˌskȯrs How to pronounce discourse (audio)
di-ˈskȯrs
1
: verbal interchange of ideas
especially : conversation
2
a
: formal and orderly and usually extended expression of thought on a subject
b
: connected speech or writing
c
: a linguistic unit (such as a conversation or a story) larger than a sentence
3
: a mode of organizing knowledge, ideas, or experience that is rooted in language and its concrete contexts (such as history or institutions)
critical discourse
4
archaic : the capacity of orderly thought or procedure : rationality
5
obsolete : social familiarity

discourse

2 of 2

verb

discoursed; discoursing

intransitive verb

1
: to express oneself especially in oral discourse
2

transitive verb

archaic : to give forth : utter
discourser noun

Examples of discourse in a Sentence

Noun Hans Selye, a Czech physician and biochemist at the University of Montreal, took these ideas further, introducing the term "stress" (borrowed from metallurgy) to describe the way trauma caused overactivity of the adrenal gland, and with it a disruption of bodily equilibrium. In the most extreme case, Selye argued, stress could wear down the body's adaptation mechanisms, resulting in death. His narrative fit well into the cultural discourse of the cold-war era, where, Harrington writes, many saw themselves as "broken by modern life." Jerome Groopman, New York Times Book Review, 27 Jan. 2008
Such is the exquisite refinement of American political discourse in the early 21st century. Brad Friedman, Mother Jones, January & February 2006
Literature records itself, shows how its records might be broken, and how the assumptions of a given discourse or culture might thereby be challenged. Shakespeare is, again, the great example. Richard Poirier, Raritan Reading, 1990
He likes to engage in lively discourse with his visitors. She delivered an entertaining discourse on the current state of the film industry. Verb The most energetic ingredients in a Ken Burns documentary are the intervals of commentary, the talking heads of historians, sociologists, and critics coming at us in living color and discoursing volubly. Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 22 Feb. 2002
Clarke had discoursed knowledgeably on the implications of temperature for apples; it was too cool here for … Winesaps, or Granny Smiths, none of which mature promptly enough to beat autumn's first freeze. David Guterson, Harper's, October 1999
… Bill Clinton was up in the sky-box suites, giving interviews. So The Baltimore Sun's guy on the job was Carl Cannon and he took notes while Clinton discoursed on the importance of Ripken's streak, the value of hard work, the lessons communicated to our youth in a nation troubled by blah blah blah. Richard Ben Cramer, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 1999
She could discourse for hours on almost any subject. the guest lecturer discoursed at some length on the long-term results of the war
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Even as disinformation experts warn of AI’s threats to polls and public discourse, few expect Congress to pass legislation reining in the AI industry during a divisive election year. Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 Cuomo has a long history of trying to sit down with newsmakers who are under scrutiny or out of favor in public discourse. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 And as both Mexico and the U.S. prepare for presidential elections this year, immigration and border control are taking center stage in political discourse – and in policymaking. Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024 And, of course, online conservative discourse contributes to trans people’s dehumanization, which in turn spurs violence against us. Jeffrey Marsh, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024 Continued discourse without action will lead to further cyberattacks. Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Because social networks play a central role in political discourse, the high court decision will have expansive consequences beyond business, for the future of American democracy. Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024 The online discussion — and at times, debate — around the game has echoed some broader pop culture discourse around the challenges and dangers of using satire in media that can sometimes be subtle or lost on people, particularly around the subject of fascism. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 Given so much of soccer discourse revolves around attributes, like how good Robert Lewandowski’s finishing is or how well Lucas Vásquez defends, there’s a nice link there, too, with EA’s game ranking players’ abilities with scores up to 100, in constant flux due to their changing form in real life. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Where the Duchess of Newcastle debated the scholars of the Royal Society, here the Empress corrects her mixed figures, a scenario as comic as Circe discoursing with her pigs. Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024 With the pressure mounting, Live Nation appeared to respond to the merch cuts discourse with On the Road Again, a new program that sounded too good to be true. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 1 Nov. 2023 Having to develop answers forces me to generate criteria around subject matters and discourse around topics, defend things and stand for things related to the series and some not. Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Oct. 2023 Going to Valdai—the annual conference where Vladimir Putin pretends to be a wise tsar interested in discoursing with professors on international politics—had become somewhat controversial. Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2023 These attempts to discourse fictional characters to death were conducted in Character. Elizabeth Minkel, WIRED, 28 Aug. 2023 The incident led to discourse within the Pakistani and South Asian community regarding the use of P-ki as a slur weaponized abroad to diminish their sense of self-worth and belonging. Neena Rouhani, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2023 Those qualities reflected not just in the appearance of, or discourse around, these cultural products, but in the execution of the products themselves. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 Feb. 2023 Harassment, even if technically not against the law, is wrong and corrosive to discourse. Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discourse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English discours "capacity for reasoning," borrowed (with assimilation to cours course entry 1 and other derivatives) from Medieval Latin discursus, going back to Late Latin, "exchange of ideas," going back to Latin, "action of running in different directions," from discurrere "to run off in different directions, (of the mind or a speaker) branch out, range," from dis- dis- + currere "to run" — more at current entry 1

Note: For formation of the verbal noun cursus see etymology and note at course entry 1.

Verb

derivative of discourse entry 1, in part after Middle French discourir "to treat, deal with," descourir "to converse"

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of discourse was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near discourse

Cite this Entry

“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discourse. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

discourse

1 of 2 noun
dis·​course ˈdis-ˌkō(ə)rs How to pronounce discourse (audio)
-ˌkȯ(ə)rs,
dis-ˈ
1
2
: a long talk or composition about a subject

discourse

2 of 2 verb
dis·​course dis-ˈkō(ə)rs How to pronounce discourse (audio) -ˈkȯ(ə)rs How to pronounce discourse (audio)
ˈdis-ˌ
discoursed; discoursing
: to talk especially for a long time

More from Merriam-Webster on discourse

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