# sedition

/sɪˈdɪʃən/ (US) · /sɛdˈɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sedition
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

the act of encouraging people to rebel against the government or the law. It usually involves using words or writing to start a protest or a fight against those in power.

For teachers: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch. Often involves the dissemination of materials intended to provoke civil disorder or subvert the established legal order.

## Examples

- The journalist was arrested and charged with sedition.
- The government argued that the protest leader's speech crossed the line from free expression into outright sedition.
- Legal scholars often debate the fine distinction between legitimate political dissent and sedition, particularly when a speaker's rhetoric explicitly calls for the forceful overthrow of democratic institutions.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in legal and political contexts; often appears as the object of verbs like 'incite', 'charge with', or 'commit'.

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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.