# indignation

/ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /ɪndɪɡnˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indignation
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. anger at injustice

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a feeling of anger that you have when you think something is unfair or dishonest.

For teachers: righteous anger or annoyance aroused by something perceived as an injustice, an indignity, or a violation of one's values.

- The workers felt great indignation at the news that their pay would be cut.
- The public's indignation grew as more details emerged regarding the government's failure to address the housing crisis.

Usage: Often used with the prepositions 'at', 'about', or 'over'.

Teaching tip: While 'anger' is a general term, 'indignation' implies that the person feels they have a moral right to be angry because a rule or standard was broken.

## Examples

- She felt a flash of indignation when he lied to her.
- The workers expressed their indignation during the meeting after learning about the sudden pay cuts.
- The editorial was filled with righteous indignation, accusing the local government of systematically ignoring the needs of the city's most vulnerable residents for over a decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.