adjective
-
of, like, or causing sedition
-
inclined to or taking part in sedition
Other Word Forms
- nonseditious adjective
- nonseditiously adverb
- nonseditiousness noun
- seditiously adverb
- seditiousness noun
- unseditious adjective
- unseditiously adverb
- unseditiousness noun
Etymology
Origin of seditious
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English sedicious, from Old French seditieux, from Latin sēditiōsus, equivalent to sēditi(ō) sedition + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Something seditious works against a government. When countries overthrow authoritarian dictators, often the people engage in seditious protests until the dictator has to leave. Seditious, pronounced "si-DI-shes," comes from the Latin seditionem meaning "civil disorder, dissention." A seditious act rebels against a government or authority. In some countries just saying seditious remarks against a government can land you in jail, especially if what you say is likely to get people to rise up against the government. If you plot against the current power structure in any way, you're being seditious.
Vocabulary lists containing seditious
1984
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other crimes committed during the U.S.
From Salon • Dec. 30, 2025
Whether Apple Daily played a seditious role, and how much control Lai exerted over its stance was at the centre of his 156-day national security trial.
From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025
Lai was also convicted of the publication of dozens of what the prosecution described as seditious articles that attacked government authorities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025
"If these ideas are deemed seditious or 'crossing the line', then I feel I can't predict the consequences of anything anymore, and I can only do what I truly believe."
From Barron's • Nov. 30, 2025
More basically, Jefferson simply did not regard his behavior as seditious or treasonable.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
