dissent

/dəˈsɛnt/

/dɪˈsɛnt/

Other forms: dissenting; dissented; dissents

To dissent is to publicly disagree with an official opinion or decision. Dissent is also a noun referring to public disagreement.

Both verb and noun are often used in reference to a statement by a judge who disagrees with a decision made by other judges. Dissent is also used to refer to political opposition to government policies. The verb derives from Middle English, from Latin dissentire, from the prefix dis- "apart" plus sentire "to feel."

Definitions of dissent

1. noun

   a difference of opinion
   type of:

   disagreement

   the speech act of disagreeing or arguing or disputing
2. noun

   the act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent
   synonyms: objection, protest

   types:

   boycott

   a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies

   direct action

   a protest action by labor or minority groups to obtain their demands

   demonstration, manifestation

   a public display of group feelings (usually of a political nature)

   walkout

   the act of walking out (of a meeting or organization) as a sign of protest

   work-in

   occasion when workers continue to work as a protest against e.g. proposed dismissal or closure of the factory

   protest march

   occasion when you can express opposition by marching (usually on some government institution) without a license

   civil disobedience

   a group's refusal to obey a law because they believe the law is immoral (as in protest against discrimination)

   job action

   a temporary action by workers to protest management decision or to make demands

   nonviolence, nonviolent resistance, passive resistance

   peaceful resistance to a government by fasting or refusing to cooperate

   recusancy

   refusal to submit to established authority; originally the refusal of Roman Catholics to attend services of the Church of England

   vigil

   a peaceful, stationary demonstration or protest, especially at night

   type of:

   resistance

   group action in opposition to those in power
3. noun

   (law) the difference of one judge's opinion from that of the majority
   “he expressed his dissent in a contrary opinion”

   type of:

   objection

   the speech act of objecting
4. verb

   be of different opinions
   synonyms: differ, disagree, take issue

   types:

   clash

   disagree violently

   contradict, contravene, negate

   deny the truth of

   deadlock

   fail or cause to fail to progress because of disagreement between opposing sides

   deny

   declare untrue; contradict
5. verb

   express opposition through action or words
   “dissent to the laws of the country”

   synonyms: protest, resist

   types:

   strike, walk out

   stop work in order to press demands

   demonstrate, march

   march in protest; take part in a demonstration

   arise, rebel, rise, rise up

   take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance

   rebel, renegade

   break with established customs

   picket

   take part in a strike or protest

   revolt

   make revolution

   mutiny

   engage in a mutiny against an authority

   type of:

   contradict, controvert, oppose

   be resistant to
6. verb

   withhold assent
   “Several Republicans dissented”

   antonyms:

   assent

   agree or express agreement

   type of:

   differ, disagree, take issue

   be of different opinions