plural discourses
formal
1
: the use of words to exchange thoughts and ideas
It's a word that doesn't have much use in ordinary discourse. [=conversation]
He likes to engage in lively discourse with his visitors.
public/political discourse
2
: a long talk or piece of writing about a subject
She delivered an entertaining discourse on the current state of the film industry.
dɪˈskoɚs
discourses; discoursed; discoursing
formal
: to talk about something especially for a long time
She could discourse for hours on/about almost any subject.
Cite this Entry
“Discourse.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/discourse. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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