# discourse

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɪs.kɔːs/ · frequency rank #9,168

## Definitions
1. Verbal exchange, conversation.
2. Expression in words, either speech or writing.
3. A conversation.
4. A formal lengthy exposition of some subject, either spoken or written.
5. Any rational expression, reason.
6. An institutionalized way of thinking, a social boundary defining what can be said about a specific topic (after Michel Foucault).
7. Lengthy, often heated debate over controversial subject matter, particularly within fandom and activist spaces. Sometimes rendered as a proper noun with the definite article (i.e. "the Discourse").
8. Dealing; transaction.

## Etymology
From Middle English discours, borrowed from Middle French discours (“conversation, speech”), from Latin discursus (“the act of running about”), from Latin discurrō (“run about”), from dis- (“apart”) + currō (“run”). Spelling modified by influence of Middle French cours (“course”). Doublet of discursus.

## Easily confused with
- **discourage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/discourage-vs-discourse)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ddiscourse`, `dicsourse`, `disccourse`, `discoruse`, `discoures`, `discourrse`, `discoursse`, `discousre`, `discuorse`, `disocurse`, `disscourse`, `dsicourse`, `idscourse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/discourse