Word
protester
Phoneticspro·test·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɹoʊˌtɛstɝ/
UK/pɹətˈɛstɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who joins a public group to show they strongly disagree with something, like a law or a government decision. You often see them carrying signs or marching in the streets.
n. a person who publicly demonstrates strong objection to a policy, law, or social condition. Often used in the context of civil disobedience or organized political movements.
Examples
“The protester held a sign outside the city hall.”
“Police stood by as each protester marched peacefully through the square to demand better working conditions.”
“While some critics dismissed the movement as disorganized, every protester interviewed expressed a clear and unified desire for immediate legislative reform regarding environmental protections.”
Examples
simple
“The protester held a sign outside the city hall.”
contextual
“Police stood by as each protester marched peacefully through the square to demand better working conditions.”
complex
“While some critics dismissed the movement as disorganized, every protester interviewed expressed a clear and unified desire for immediate legislative reform regarding environmental protections.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “protester” in context.
Verb
01. clash with protesters
“Security forces began to clash with protesters after the march turned violent.”
verb + prep + noun
02. disperse the protesters
“The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters gathered in the square.”
verb + noun
03. protesters demand change
“Thousands of protesters demand change to the current environmental laws.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. anti-government protester
“An anti-government protester was interviewed by the local news station.”
adj + noun
05. peaceful protester
“The organizers emphasized that every peaceful protester should remain calm.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. crowd of protesters
“A large crowd of protesters blocked the main entrance to the parliament building.”
noun + of + noun
07. protester rights
“Legal experts are discussing how to better protect protester rights during demonstrations.”
noun + noun
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'against' or 'for' to indicate the cause.
Real-World Examples
“Over 1,000 protesters were arrested and jailed , and the campaign failed to achieve its goals.” “Some of the protesters responded by dancing and cheering as jets of water drenched the crowd.” Etymology
From protest + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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