• Today's Word

Foment

🔊 Listen to the word Foment

FOH-ment

Definition

(verb) To instigate, stir up, or encourage (especially trouble or rebellion).

Example

The speech was accused of fomenting unrest among the workers.

Word Origin

From Latin fovēre, meaning “to warm” or “soothe.”

Fun Fact

While foment sounds fiery, its roots are surprisingly gentle—it originally referred to warming or applying heat to soothe pain. By the 1600s, the word evolved metaphorically to mean “stirring up” passions or conflicts, much like heat can cause something to boil over. Today, it’s most often used in political or social contexts, describing the act of provoking movement or rebellion—the linguistic spark behind a blaze of action.