Discord is serious disagreement or conflict between people or groups. When there's discord in a classroom, students might argue constantly instead of working together peacefully. When discord exists in a family, members might fight over decisions or stop communicating well with each other.

The word suggests more than a simple disagreement about what movie to watch. Discord means ongoing tension or clashing that disrupts harmony and cooperation. A country might experience discord when different groups have opposing views about important issues. A sports team in discord might have players who refuse to pass to each other or follow the coach's strategy.

Discord often spreads and gets worse if people don't address it directly. Two friends might have a small misunderstanding that grows into real discord if they don't talk it through. The opposite of discord is harmony or accord, when people work together smoothly and agreeably.

You might also encounter Discord (capitalized) as the name of a popular communication app that gamers and other groups use to chat while playing together or working on projects. The app's creators chose this name playfully, since people use Discord to create connection and teamwork rather than actual discord.