What does dissention mean?
Dissention is a variant spelling of "dissension", the noun that names active disagreement or discord within a group — a boardroom split, a rift in a congregation, quarrels inside a party or a family. Where a simple "difference of opinion" can be calm and intellectual, dissension suggests friction loud enough to threaten cohesion, which is why writers reach for it in political and organizational contexts: internal dissention, religious dissension, dissension in the ranks. The word entered English in the late Middle Ages from Latin "dissentire", "to differ in sentiment", via Old French, sharing its root with "dissent" and "consent". Although "dissention" does appear in historical texts and is occasionally listed as a rare variant, modern dictionaries and style guides treat "dissension" as the only fully accepted spelling, so careful writers should reserve "dissention" for quotations or avoid it altogether. The word remains useful precisely because it connotes division with consequences.
nounDissention is a recognized but nonstandard variant spelling of "dissension," meaning disagreement or discord, especially within a group that is expected to hold together. In careful modern usage, "dissension" is the preferred form.
- Disagreement or discord among members of a group, especially when it threatens unity; a variant spelling of "dissension."
"The committee's report was delayed by internal dissention over the budget."
"Rumors of pay cuts sowed dissention throughout the workforce."
"Despite years of dissention between the two branches of the family, they reunited for the anniversary."
Like "dissension", the word is usually uncountable; a plural occurs occasionally when referring to multiple distinct instances of conflict.
"The chronicle records the many dissentions that plagued the medieval court."
Spell it with an extra '-tion' and editors will pounce — 'dissention' is the classic near-miss of 'dissension', a word whose very history is about disagreeing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dissention
The word descends from Latin "dissentire", meaning "to differ in feeling or opinion", formed from "dis-" (apart) plus "sentire" (to feel), the same root behind "sentiment", "consent", and "sensible". It passed into English via Old French during the late Middle Ages as "dissension", denoting strife or disagreement. The spelling "dissention" arose by analogy with words ending in "-tion", and while it has a long history of use in English texts, lexicographers have generally regarded it as a secondary or erroneous variant rather than a distinct word.
Related word forms
How dissention is actually used
"Dissention" appears in print from time to time and some dictionaries record it as a rare variant, but style guides and editors overwhelmingly prefer "dissension"; using the standard spelling is safest in any formal context. The word itself carries a fairly formal register and often implies conflict inside an organization, family, church, or political body rather than a mere difference of opinion.
Easily confused with dissention
"Dissension" is the standard, dictionary-accepted spelling of the noun meaning disagreement; "dissention" is a variant spelling often treated as an error in formal writing.