discourse.

language or communication considered as extended discussion or as a socially shaped way of speaking and thinking

Use it for

Words that belong together

• public discourse
• political discourse
• scholarly discourse

On the page

The study traces changes in public discourse about migration.

These metaphors recur throughout the political discourse.

The chapter compares two discourses of national identity.

Usage notes

Primary curation section: Academic. Broader than one conversation; in the humanities, often refers to recurring patterns of language and assumptions. Plural: discourses for distinct traditions or systems of communication. Related adjective: discursive, sense varies.