English Reference
Noun

protester

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US /ˈpɹoʊˌtɛstɝ/ UK /pɹətˈɛstɐ/ pro·test·er UK spelling protesters Law

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.


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.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'against' or 'for' to indicate the cause.

Over 1,000 protesters were arrested and jailed , and the campaign failed to achieve its goals.

The Conversation· 19 Aug 2026

Some of the protesters responded by dancing and cheering as jets of water drenched the crowd.

The Guardian· 10 Aug 2026

From protest + -er.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated