agonism
|a-gon-ism|
/ˈæɡənɪzəm/
contest; productive conflict
Etymology
'agonism' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'agōn', where 'agōn' meant 'contest' or 'struggle'. The English noun is formed with the suffix '-ism'.
'agonism' was formed in modern English from Greek roots (via scholarly/modern-Latin and French formations such as 'agonisme') and entered English usage as a noun describing contest or theories based on contest.
Initially it referred broadly to 'contest' or 'struggle'; over time it has come to include specialized senses, especially in political theory where it denotes a positive or institutionalized view of adversarial engagement.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a disposition or tendency toward contest, struggle, or rivalry; competitive or antagonistic attitude.
The debate showed a healthy agonism among the candidates.
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Noun 2
in political theory, a view that accepts conflict and adversarial engagement as an inevitable and potentially productive part of democratic life (see 'agonistic pluralism').
Chantal Mouffe defends agonism as an alternative to consensus-based models of democracy.
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Last updated: 2025/09/30 12:05