sedition •\si-ˈdi-shən\• noun : an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government The word sedition has appeared in 104 New York Times articles in the past year, including on Aug. 7 in "Malaysian Activist Speaks Out for Migrant Workers" by Liz Gooch: KUALA LUMPUR - Irene Fernandez has no shortage of shocking tales of the abuse and exploitation of foreign domestic workers in Malaysian homes. A leading figure in civil society and a longtime member of the political opposition, Ms. Fernandez's habit of not mincing her words has often landed her in trouble with the authorities. She gained international attention as the face of one of the country's longest-running criminal trials after she was charged in 1996 with publishing falsehoods in a report on the abuse of migrants in government detention centers. More recently, she has come under investigation over possible sedition after she declared that Malaysia was not safe for foreign workers. Learn more about the word "sedition" and see usage examples across a range of subjects on the Vocabulary dictionary.