discord

American  

[dis-kawrd, dis-kawrd] / ˈdɪs kɔrd, dɪsˈkɔrd /

noun

• discords
  plural

1. 

   lack of concord or harmony between persons or things.

   marital discord.

   Synonyms:

   contention, argument, antagonism, controversy, struggle, conflict

2. disagreement; difference of opinion.

   Synonyms:

   contention, argument, antagonism, controversy, struggle, conflict

3. strife; dispute; war.

   Synonyms:

   contention, argument, antagonism, controversy, struggle, conflict

4. Music. an inharmonious combination of musical tones sounded together.

5. any confused or harsh noise; dissonance.

---

verb (used without object)

• discords,
  present (3rd person singular)
• discorded,
  past participle,  past
• discording
  present participle

1. to disagree; be at variance.

discord British  

noun

1. lack of agreement of harmony; strife

2. harsh confused mingling of sounds

3. a combination of musical notes containing one or more dissonant intervals See dissonance concord

---

verb

1. (intr) to disagree; clash

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undiscording
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• discords
  plural

Participles

• discording
  present
• discorded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• discord
  simple
• discords
  simple
• have discorded
  perfect
• has discorded
  perfect
• am discording
  progressive
• are discording
  progressive
• is discording
  progressive
• have been discording
  perfect progressive
• has been discording
  perfect progressive

Past

• discorded
  simple
• had discorded
  perfect
• was discording
  progressive
• were discording
  progressive
• had been discording
  perfect progressive

Future

• will discord
  simple
• will have discorded
  perfect
• will be discording
  progressive
• will have been discording
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of discord

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English noun descorde, discorde, from Anglo-French, Old French descort, descorde, from Latin discordia, derivative of discord-, stem of discors “discordant,” from dis- dis- ¹ + cord-, stem of cors “heart”

Explanation

Discord is the strife and tension that arises when two sides disagree on something, like the high-pitched screaming of two kids fighting over the front seat of the car. Discord can be broken down into the prefix dis, meaning "different," and cord, which stems from an old word for "heart." So that leaves us with "different hearts." So if we're talking about music, discord means a lack of harmony — tones that clash so badly your ears bleed. But when there's discord between people, their hearts are in different places — which usually results in more than a few raised voices clashing disharmoniously.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

discord discords discorded discording

In our current era of political discord and economic pessimism, we can use some optimism about human achievement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

It's a sense of discord that Britain's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, seems to recognise.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

White suggested in his autobiography that any discord in Earth, Wind & Fire was a natural part of band life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

The 2026 World Cup may also be benefiting from a viewing public that wants a distraction from the ongoing political discord in the U.S. and war in the Middle East.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

There are no revisited scenes of discord with her father or her teachers.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

The musical still dwells on their intergenerational and intersectional discords — albeit this time with upbeat numbers, disco balls and dance breaks in the multipurpose room of their local Jewish Community Center.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2023

Do you arbitrate these touchy discords between cohabitants on a frequent basis?

From Washington Post ● Feb. 18, 2020

Author Christopher Caldwell traces the origins of today’s deep discords to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 24, 2020

The strings pile up discords, first spooky, now ominous.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 1, 2012

Deep within him his metallic diaphragm vibrated in soft discords.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

And on her side gentle thoughts and simple pleasures were odious to Mrs. Becky; they discorded with her; she hated people for liking them; she spurned children and children-lovers.

From Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

Nay, the monster had a certain key of style, or want of style, so that certain milder passages, which I sought to introduce, discorded horribly and impoverished, if that were possible, the general effect.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 13 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson

And if rain be evil and distemperate in its qualities, and discording to place and time, it is grievous and noyful to many things.

From Mediaeval Lore from Bartholomew Anglicus by Robert Steele

A discording voice and an inordinate troubleth the accord of many voices.

From Mediaeval Lore from Bartholomew Anglicus by Robert Steele

Thou shalt them ken by their discording notes, Their weeds are plain, such as poor shepherds wear; Unshapen, torn, and ragged are their coats, Yet forth they wand'ring are devoid of fear.

From Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles: Idea, Fidesa and Chloris by Martha Foote Crow

He mixes public and private business, the intricacies of discording life with his religion and devotion.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by E. V. (Edward Verrall) Lucas

Mrs. Pettigrew's screams were almost drowned in the discording crash and crackle of the falling avalanche of crockery.

From The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit

Related Words

• disharmony
• dissonance
• tumult