sedition

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state.
2. n. Insurrection; rebellion.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A factious commotion in a state; the stirring up of such a commotion; incitement of discontent against government and disturbance of public tranquillity, as by inflammatory speeches or writings, or acts or language tending to breach of public order: as, to stir up a sedition; a speech or pamphlet, abounding in sedition. Sedition, which is not strictly a legal term, comprises such offenses against the authority of the state as do not amount to treason, for want of an overt act. But it is not essential to the offense of sedition that it threaten the very existence of the state or its authority in its entire extent. Thus, there are seditious assemblies, seditious libels, etc., as well as direct and indirect threats and acts amounting to sedition—all of which are punishable as misdemeanors by fine and imprisonment.
2. n. Synonyms Rebellion, Revolt, etc. See insurrection.

Wiktionary

1. n. organized incitement of rebellion or civil disorder against authority or the state, usually by speech or writing.
2. n. insurrection or rebellion

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The raising of commotion in a state, not amounting to insurrection; conduct tending to treason, but without an overt act; excitement of discontent against the government, or of resistance to lawful authority.
2. n. obsolete Dissension; division; schism.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government