lèse-majesté

noun

lèse-ma·jes·té ˌlāz-ˈma-jə-stē

ˌlez-,

ˌlēz-

variants or lese majesty

: a crime (such as treason) committed against a sovereign power

: an offense violating the dignity of a ruler as the representative of a sovereign power

: a detraction from or affront to dignity or importance

Did you know?

Lèse-majesté (or lese majesty, as it is also styled in English publications) came into English by way of Middle French, from the Latin laesa majestas, which literally means "injured majesty." The English term can conceivably cover any offense against a sovereign power or its ruler, from treason to a simple breach of etiquette, but lèse-majesté has also acquired a more lighthearted or ironic meaning, referring to something that insults or shows disrespect, especially to a particularly pompous or self-important person or organization. As such, it may be applied to a relatively inoffensive act that has been exaggeratedly treated as if it were a great affront.

Examples of lèse-majesté in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

But the party has since been hampered by political and legal challenges—from being blocked from taking the premiership and forming a ruling coalition to the ongoing threat of dissolution by the Constitutional Court for its efforts to amend the lese-majeste law. —

Koh Ewe, TIME, 27 May 2024 Bung was one of around 270 activists charged with lese-majeste since a wave of pro-democracy—and anti-monarchy—protests broke out in 2020. —

Koh Ewe, TIME, 14 May 2024 But the upstart Move Forward Party—led by the young and charismatic Pita Limjaroenrat and most known for its calls to amend Section 112, the controversial lese-majeste law wielded against pro-democracy activists—ended up getting even more votes. —

Time, 22 Aug. 2023 Move Forward won strong popular support in particular for its calls to amend Section 112, the country’s controversial lese-majeste law—which carries up to 15 years in prison for criticizing the royal family, and which in recent years has been used to target pro-democracy activists. —

Time, 13 July 2023 Move Forward has also championed the amendment of Section 112, a controversial lese-majeste law criticized by pro-democracy activists but upheld by the junta and royalists, including Move Forward’s coalition partner Pheu Thai. —

Time, 3 July 2023 Limjaroenrat is seeking to remove the military from politics and advocates for reform of the monarchy, including the country’s controversial lese-majeste law, Article 112. —

Julia Malleck, Quartz, 11 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle French lese majesté, from Latin laesa majestas, literally, injured majesty

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of lèse-majesté was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lèse-majesté.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/l%C3%A8se-majest%C3%A9. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation