dissent
dih-SENT
/dɪˈsent/
The expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held.
Strong, reasoned disagreement with orthodoxy, official policy, or majority consensus.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'dissentire', combining 'dis-' (apart) and 'sentire' (to feel or think). It literally means 'to feel differently.' The word took on deep political and religious resonance during the English Reformation when those who refused the established church were termed 'Dissenters.'
Word relationships
- disagreement: Disagreement is general, whereas dissent carries heavy political, legal, or philosophical weight.
- nonconformity: Nonconformity relates to behavior and lifestyle, while dissent centers on principled opinion.
- assent: Assent is formal agreement with a proposal or opinion.
- consensus: Consensus is general agreement among a group.
Commonly confused with
- descent: Descent means moving downwards or lineage; dissent means disagreement.
Word family
- dissenter (noun): One who disagrees with official views.
- dissenting (adjective): Holding or expressing disagreement.
Collocations
- voice dissent
- stifle dissent
- dissenting opinion
- political dissent
Idioms & expressions
- swim against the stream
Example sentences
- "Throwing out preclearance when it has worked to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet. I express my dissent." Legal opinion
- "Under authoritarian regimes, public dissent is routinely treated as a threat to state security." Political history
Memory hook
DIS (apart) + SENT (feeling) = feeling apart from the crowd. Feeling apart from the majority.
When not to use
Do not use for petty personal bickering over minor everyday matters.
Fun facts
- In US legal history, famous Supreme Court dissents have frequently become majority law decades later as cultural ethics evolved.
Related words
Also appears in
- Communication → Disagreements & Denials
- Leadership → Rebellion & Dissent
- Relationships → Peer Pressure & Conformity
- Conflict → Disagreements & Debates
- Political Science & Governance → Civil Society & Grassroots Movements
- Religion & World Beliefs → Religious Reform & Secularization
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Censorship & Freedom of Speech
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