Subvert

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /sÉ™bˈvɜːt/
• US enPR: sÉ™bvûrtʹ, IPA: /sÉ™bˈvɝt/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)t

From Middle English subverten, from Latin subvertō ("to overthrow", literally to underturn, turn from beneath).

Full definition of subvert

Verb

1. (transitive) To overturn from the foundation; to overthrow; to ruin utterly.
• ShakespeareHe ... razeth your cities, and subverts your towns.
• John LockeThis would subvert the principles of all knowledge.
2. (transitive) To pervert, as the mind, and turn it from the truth; to corrupt; to confound.A dictator stays in power only as long as he manages to subvert the will of his people.
3. (transitive) To upturn convention from the foundation by undermining it (literally, to turn from beneath).

Derived terms

• subversion
• subversive

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈsÊŒbvɜːt/
• US enPR: sÅ­bʹvûrt, IPA: /ˈsÊŒbvɝt/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)t

Back-formation from {{3}}, by analogy with advert.

Noun

1. An advertisement created by subvertising.

Synonyms

• subvertisement