sedition

noun

se·​di·​tion si-ˈdi-shən How to pronounce sedition (audio)
: incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

Examples of sedition in a Sentence

The leaders of the group have been arrested and charged with sedition.
Recent Examples on the Web Under the new legislation, penalties for sedition have been increased, with the maximum sentence raised to seven years in jail from the existing two years. Alan Wong, Fortune Asia, 9 Mar. 2024 In 1920, socialist candidate Eugene Debs ran for president while serving a 10-year prison sentence for sedition. USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 Within days of his appointment, about a dozen students were charged with sedition after being accused of displaying slogans supporting a Kashmiri man hanged by India over a deadly attack on Parliament. Sameer Yasir, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 In July, the United Nations Human Rights Committee in its fourth periodic review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Hong Kong called for the repealing of both the NSL and the sedition law. Doug Bandow, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024 Between the immediate post-Civil War era and January 6th, 2021, Section 3 was invoked only once, to remove Victor Berger—a Socialist congressman who had been convicted on sedition charges for opposing the First World War—from the House of Representatives. Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2024 The work of the sedition hunters, in their uneasy partnership with the Justice Department, is unfinished. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 10 Oct. 2023 Lai pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to two charges of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces—a crime created in 2020 by China’s imposition of a national security law—and a separate charge of sedition, speaking just three times. Elaine Yu, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2024 He is formally accused of sedition, collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to produce and distribute seditious material. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 15 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sedition.' 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

Middle English sedicioun, from Anglo-French sediciun, from Latin sedition-, seditio, literally, separation, from sed-, se- apart + ition-, itio act of going, from ire to go — more at secede, issue entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sedition was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sedition

Cite this Entry

“Sedition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedition. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sedition

noun
se·​di·​tion si-ˈdish-ən How to pronounce sedition (audio)
: the stirring up of feelings against lawful authority

Legal Definition

sedition

noun
se·​di·​tion si-ˈdi-shən How to pronounce sedition (audio)
: the crime of creating a revolt, disturbance, or violence against lawful civil authority with the intent to cause its overthrow or destruction compare criminal syndicalism, sabotage
seditious adjective
seditiously adverb
Etymology

Latin seditio, literally, separation, from sed apart + itio act of going, from ire to go

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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