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Unseat: meaning, definitions and examples

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unseat

 

[ʌnˈsiːt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

politics

To remove someone from a position of power or authority, especially through a vote or election.

Synonyms

displace, overthrow, remove.

Examples of usage

  • The opposition party is trying to unseat the current prime minister in the upcoming election.
  • The scandal led to calls for the president to be unseated.
Context #2 | Verb

sports

To cause a competitor to fall from their seat or saddle, especially in horse racing.

Examples of usage

  • The jockey made a daring move to unseat the favorite horse in the final stretch.
  • The aggressive play unseated the defending champion.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • Unseat comes from the Old English 'unsettan,' which means to take away a seat.
  • The prefix 'un-' indicates a reversal, so it literally means to 'not' have a seat anymore.
  • The term has been used since the 15th century and has evolved to encompass various positions of authority.

Politics

  • In political contexts, to unseat often refers to the act of removing an incumbent official from office, usually through an election.
  • A notable example is the 2010 US elections, where several incumbents were unseated due to widespread voter dissatisfaction.
  • Unseating is a critical part of democratic processes, reflecting the populace's will.

Sports

  • In sports, unseating an opponent can refer to winning a match against a defending champion, such as in tennis or wrestling.
  • The term is commonly used in horse racing when a horse that has been a top competitor loses its title or rank.
  • In the context of sports teams, a coach may unseat a starting player in favor of a new talent.

Literature

  • This term appears in literary works, often symbolizing overthrow or change, such as in Shakespeare's histories where kings can be unseated.
  • In modern fiction, characters may 'unseat' others by revealing truths or scandals that alter power dynamics.
  • Fables and fairy tales frequently use the idea of unseating to discuss moral lessons about power and justice.

Psychology

  • The act of unseating someone can have profound psychological effects on both the individual being unseated and the one doing it.
  • Research shows that people often react strongly to perceived loss of status, leading to feelings of anger or resentment.
  • Understanding the power dynamics involved in unseating can help in conflict resolution and leadership development.

Translations

Translations of the word "unseat" in other languages:

🇵🇹 destituir

🇮🇳 गद्दी से हटाना

🇩🇪 absetzen

🇮🇩 menggulingkan

🇺🇦 змістити

🇵🇱 pozbawić stanowiska

🇯🇵 解任する (kaijin suru)

🇫🇷 détrôner

🇪🇸 desbancar

🇹🇷 görevden almak

🇰🇷 물러나게 하다 (mullonage hada)

🇸🇦 عزل (azl)

🇨🇿 sesadit

🇸🇰 odvolať

🇨🇳 罢免 (bàmiǎn)

🇸🇮 odstaviti

🇮🇸 svipta embætti

🇰🇿 қызметтен алу

🇬🇪 განდევნა (gandevna)

🇦🇿 vəzifədən azad etmək

🇲🇽 desbancar

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,023 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.