# discourse

/ˈdɪskɔɹs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/discourse
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. formal communication

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

serious speech or writing about a specific subject.

For teachers: the use of spoken or written language in a social or academic context.

- The professor studied the political discourse of the twentieth century.
- The analysis focuses on how public discourse regarding climate change has shifted from scientific skepticism to urgent policy debate over the last decade.

### 2. a formal talk or essay

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a long and serious speech or piece of writing on a particular topic.

For teachers: a formal and lengthy treatment of a subject, either in speech or in writing.

- He published a famous discourse on the nature of democracy.
- Her latest discourse on economic theory challenges the traditional assumptions held by her peers in the department.

### 3. social way of thinking

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

the way that a particular group of people or a society talks about a subject.

For teachers: an institutionalised way of thinking or a social boundary that defines what can be said about a specific topic.

- Medical discourse often uses language that is difficult for patients to understand.
- Foucault explored how dominant medical discourse in the nineteenth century shaped the public's perception of mental health and deviance.

### 4. online debate

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

long and often angry arguments on the internet about social or cultural topics.

For teachers: lengthy, often heated debate over controversial subject matter within digital fandom or activist communities.

- I had to delete the app because the discourse was becoming too toxic.
- The latest discourse on social media regarding the film's casting choices has overshadowed the actual quality of the production.

Usage: Often used with the definite article as 'the discourse'.

## Examples

- The professor expects a high level of discourse in her classroom.
- After the controversial movie premiered, the online discourse quickly turned toxic as fans and critics argued endlessly.
- The author argues that healthy political discourse requires participants to engage with opposing viewpoints in good faith, rather than simply dismissing them as morally flawed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.