Word
disobedience
Phoneticsdis·obe·di·ence
US/ˌdɪsəˈbidiəns/
UK/dˌɪsəʊbˈiːdiəns/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the act of refusing to do what you are told by someone in power. It means breaking a rule or law on purpose.
n. the failure or refusal to obey rules, laws, or someone in authority. Often used in political or social contexts to describe non-violent protest.
Examples
“The student faced punishment for his disobedience in class.”
“Civil disobedience remains a powerful tool for activists seeking to change unjust laws through peaceful resistance.”
“The general warned that any further acts of disobedience among the ranks would be met with immediate court-martial to maintain military discipline.”
Examples
simple
“The student faced punishment for his disobedience in class.”
contextual
“Civil disobedience remains a powerful tool for activists seeking to change unjust laws through peaceful resistance.”
complex
“The general warned that any further acts of disobedience among the ranks would be met with immediate court-martial to maintain military discipline.”
Usage
Often paired with the adjective 'civil' or the preposition 'to' ('disobedience to the law').
Real-World Examples
“As the groups coalesced, Richmond said it was “the most civilised act of civil disobedience I’ve ever participated in”.” Etymology
From Middle English disobedience, dysobediaunce, from Old French desobedience. By surface analysis, dis- + obedience. Displaced native Old English unhīersumnes.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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