What does discord mean?
Discord denotes a state of disagreement, conflict, or lack of harmony — whether between individuals, groups, or nations. It carries a somewhat formal tone, appearing frequently in discussions of politics, family relations, and institutional affairs: one might speak of marital discord or of a leader who sowed discord among colleagues. The word also has an established meaning in music, where it names a dissonant chord or combination of notes that sounds tense and unresolved, typically demanding resolution into consonance. Derived from Latin roots meaning "apart" and "heart", discord is etymologically the opposite of concord, or agreement — a pairing still visible in modern usage. Its connotations are generally negative, implying friction that disrupts peace or unity. A useful word for writers seeking precision beyond the blunter "fight" or "argument", it captures both open conflict and subtler incompatibility, and remains common in journalism, literature, and formal discourse alike.
nounLack of agreement or harmony between people or things; conflict or strife. In music, a combination of notes that sounds tense, clashing, and unresolved.
- Disagreement, conflict, or lack of harmony between people, groups, or ideas.
- In music, a dissonant combination of notes that sounds tense and demands resolution.
"The sudden resignation sowed discord within the board."
"Years of political discord finally erupted into open protest."
"The piece ends on a deliberately unresolved discord that leaves the listener uneasy."
Rarely used in the plural; "discord" is normally an uncountable noun denoting a general state of conflict. The plural appears occasionally in literary or older texts to refer to specific instances of strife or dissonant sounds.
"The chronicle records the many discords that plagued the kingdom."
Discord literally means "apart from the heart" — the same Latin root that gives us "cordial" (warm-hearted) gives us "discord" (hearts pulled apart).
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discord
Discord derives from the Latin "discordia", formed from "dis-" (apart) and "cor, cordis" (heart), literally signifying hearts at variance. It entered English via Old French "discord" during the Middle English period, well before the fourteenth century. The same Latin root "cordis" underlies cognates such as concord (hearts together), accord, cordial, and concordance. The musical sense developed later as the term was applied to clashing combinations of notes.
How discord is actually used
Somewhat formal in register; everyday speech often prefers "argument", "fight", or "falling-out". The musical sense is technical but widely understood. Commonly used with verbs like "sow", "cause", or "create". Also the name of a popular chat platform, which has given the word fresh cultural currency among younger speakers.
Easily confused with discord
"Discord" is the noun meaning conflict or musical clash, while "discordant" is its adjective form describing something that is in disagreement or harsh-sounding.
"Discord" refers to disagreement or conflict, whereas "discourse" means written or spoken communication and discussion.