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dissent

dih-SENT /dɪˈsɛnt/

nounverbB2SATGRETOEFLIELTSUPSC

formalpoliticallegal

The expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held.

Refers to conscientious non-agreement or active disagreement with authority or majority consensus.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'dis-' (apart, differently) and 'sentire' (to feel or think), 'dissent' literally means 'to feel differently.' In 17th-century England, Protestants who refused to conform to the official Church of England were known as 'Dissenters,' establishing the link between conscientious objection and religious liberty.

Word relationships

disagreement: General term, whereas dissent implies standing against an authority or established line.
nonconformity: Refers to behavior or lifestyle that does not follow standard rules.

assent: Expression of formal approval or agreement.
consensus: General agreement among a group.

Commonly confused with

descent: Descent means going down or ancestral lineage; dissent means disagreement.

Word family

dissenter (noun): A person who dissents from official doctrine.
dissenting (adjective): Holding or expressing dissenting views.

Collocations

voice dissent
suppress dissent
political dissent
dissenting opinion

Example sentences

"Justice Harlan filed a famous dissent, arguing that the Constitution must be color-blind." Supreme Court opinion

Memory hook

Dis-SENT = sending your opinion in a DIS-tant/opposite direction. Dissent = feel differently from authority.

When not to use

Do not confuse with 'descent' (moving downward) or 'decent' (good/proper)—they are homophones/near-homophones.

Fun facts

In English history, 'Dissenters' (like Quakers and Baptists) were banned from attending Oxford or Cambridge until the Universities Tests Act of 1871.