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.

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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

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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

But if Spurs do drop into the Championship on Sunday it will not be because of one incident after a campaign of discord, instability and rank incompetence on and off the pitch.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Barton builds up Mozart’s role, with emphasis on his home life, which he fills with discord and challenges of his own devising.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

"At this moment I'm not satisfied with what they're offering," Trump told reporters, blaming stalled talks on "tremendous discord" within Iran's leadership.

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

Even couples who make it well into a marriage contend with all the perils born from romance gone stale, including the functional discord clumsily realized in the sight-gag metaphor of “The Miniature Wife.”

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

I saw how, by imitating it, I could trick Cristiana and sow discord to the confusion of all.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• disharmony
• dissonance
• tumult