Word

deconstruction

noun C1

/diːkənˈstɹʌkʃən/

Meanings

noun

A critical method of analyzing a text or idea to expose underlying assumptions, contradictions, and multiple meanings.

deconstruction: A critical method of analyzing a text or idea to expose underlying assumptions, contradictions, and multiple…

noun

The process of taking something apart into its components in order to understand how it is made or works.

Definition

Deconstruction is a way of analyzing a text or idea by breaking it down to reveal hidden assumptions and contradictions.

Deconstruction is a critical approach used in literature, philosophy, and cultural studies. It examines how language and concepts create meaning, often showing that meanings are unstable or contain tensions. By breaking an argument or text into parts, it highlights what is taken for granted and what is left unsaid.

Examples

In her thesis, she uses deconstruction to show how the novel’s narrator undermines his own authority.
During the workshop, I found the deconstruction of the argument more persuasive than the conclusion itself.
They criticized his deconstruction of the film for ignoring its historical context.
As a designer, you can learn a lot from the deconstruction of a classic chair into its basic forms and materials.

Common mistake

Learners often misuse deconstruction as a synonym for simple criticism, but it specifically focuses on tensions and assumptions within language and meaning.