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discord
/ˈdɪskɔːrd/
disagreement or conflict
The discord between the team members delayed the project.
The disagreement among team members caused delays in the project.
formal
Disagreement or lack of harmony between people or groups.
There was a lot of discord in the committee over the new policy.
The committee members strongly disagreed about the new policy.
Often implies active conflict or tension rather than passive disagreement.
literary
A state of disharmony or conflict.
The discord in the kingdom led to civil war.
The internal conflicts within the kingdom resulted in a civil war.
Common in historical or dramatic contexts.
Collocations
civil discordpublic disagreement or conflict leading to unrestfamily discordconflict within a familypolitical discorddisagreement among political groups
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: 'Discord' vs. 'Discourse'
'Discord' refers to conflict or disagreement, while 'discourse' refers to formal discussion or conversation. Example: 'The political discourse was civil, but there was discord over the issues.'
Gold Rule
When to Use 'Discord'
Use 'discord' when describing active conflict, tension, or lack of harmony between people, groups, or systems. Avoid using it to describe mild disagreement.
Word Origin
From Old French *discorde* (12th century), from Latin *discordia*, from *discors* (disagreeing), from *dis-* (apart) + *cor* (heart).
Usage Notes
Used to describe both personal and large-scale conflicts. In modern contexts, it can also refer to digital communication platforms (e.g., Discord app) but this is a secondary, specialized meaning.
Word Breakdown
dis-
apart, not
prefix-cord-
heart
root-ia
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary