# objection

/əbˈdʒɛkʃən/ (US) · /ɒbdʒˈɛkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/objection
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. disagreement or reason against

noun · CEFR B2

a reason why you do not like or agree with a plan or idea.

For teachers: an expression or feeling of disapproval or opposition; a reason or argument presented against a proposal.

- The main objection to the new highway is that it will be too noisy for the neighbors.
- Despite several strong objections to the proposed budget cuts, the board decided to move forward with the plan anyway.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun or gerund.

### 2. legal protest

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a formal protest made in a court of law because a rule was broken.

For teachers: a formal protest raised during a trial or legal proceeding regarding a violation of the rules of evidence or procedure.

- The lawyer raised an objection when the witness started talking about rumors.
- The judge sustained the defense's objection, ruling that the prosecution's line of questioning was irrelevant to the current case.

Usage: Commonly used with the verbs 'raise', 'overrule', or 'sustain'.

## Examples

- The manager had no objection to my holiday request.
- The defense attorney raised an objection when the prosecutor asked the witness a leading question.
- While the committee members voiced several minor objections regarding the budget, they ultimately reached a consensus that the primary objectives of the proposal remained sound.

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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.
