VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

discourse

noun·Advancedformal

Last updated

UK/ˈdɪskɔːs/
US/ˈdɪskɔːrs/

Meanings

  1. noununcountableformal

    Written or spoken communication or debate about a subject, especially at a serious or public level.

    Grammar: Often uncountable for public debate; it takes on, about, or between rather than a plural list.

    Patterns

    • public discourse
    • discourse on a topic
    • discourse between groups

    The scandal changed public discourse about privacy.

    Scholars track how discourse on climate shifted after the flood.

  2. nouncountable or uncountablespecialist

    In linguistics, language studied as communication larger than one sentence, such as conversation, texts, or speeches.

    Grammar: Uncountable for the field; countable can name a particular connected stretch of language.

    Patterns

    • discourse analysis
    • spoken discourse
    • written discourse

    Discourse analysis looks at how speakers take turns and signal agreement.

    The interview was treated as one discourse shaped by the questions.

  3. nouncountableformalold-fashioned

    A formal speech or long discussion on a subject, especially an academic or moral one.

    Grammar: Countable and quite formal; often followed by on or about.

    Patterns

    • a discourse on ethics
    • deliver a discourse
    • open discourse

    The professor delivered a discourse on the duties of citizenship.

    His discourse about charity was thoughtful but very long.

Word forms

pluraldiscourses

Common combinations

public discourse
Social media can widen public discourse but also polarize it.
political discourse
The debate lowered the tone of political discourse for weeks.
discourse analysis
She uses discourse analysis to study interviews with nurses.
a discourse on
He wrote a discourse on justice that is still cited.
open discourse
The seminar encouraged open discourse among first-year students.

Synonyms and how they differ

discussion
Discussion is an everyday exchange; discourse is broader, more formal, and often public.
debate
Debate implies opposing sides and structured argument, not all communication.
conversation
Conversation is informal talk between people; discourse can include writing and institutions.
treatise
Treatise is a formal written work; discourse can be spoken, written, or debated.

Opposites

silence

Word family

discursive adjective
Moving from topic to topic, or relating to discourse and reasoning.
discuss verb
To talk or write about a subject in order to examine it.
discussion noun
A conversation or debate about a subject.

Commonly confused: discourse or discussion? discourse or course?

discourse vs discussion

Discussion is the act of talking something over; discourse is the broader flow of communication in a field.

discourse vs course

Course can mean a class or path; discourse is communication or debate, though a discourse may be part of a course.

Practice

Discourse analysis usually studies language beyond a ___ sentence.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “discourse”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words