dissident

/ˈdɪsədənt/

/ˈdɪsɪdɪnt/

Other forms: dissidents

If you are a dissident, you are a person who is rebelling against a government. Dissidents can do their work peacefully or with violence.

Dissident is closely related to the word, dissent, which means objecting. People who are dissidents show their dissent. Catholic priests who advocate allowing women into the priesthood could be called dissidents, as could the Puritans who left England to live in colonial America. As an adjective, a dissident member of a group is one who disagrees with the majority of members.

Definitions of dissident

1. noun

   a person who dissents from some established policy
   synonyms: contestant, dissenter, dissentient, objector, protester

   types:

   CO, conscientious objector

   one who refuses to serve in the armed forces on grounds of conscience

   nonconformist, recusant

   someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct

   political dissident

   a dissenter from political orthodoxy

   NIMBY

   someone who objects to siting something in their own neighborhood but does not object to it being sited elsewhere; an acronym for not in my backyard

   beat, beatnik

   a member of the beat generation; a nonconformist in dress and behavior

   bohemian

   a nonconformist writer or artist who lives an unconventional life

   enfant terrible

   a person whose unconventional behavior embarrasses others

   heretic

   a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)

   maverick, rebel

   someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
2. adjective

   characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards
   synonyms: heretical, heterodox

   unorthodox

   breaking with convention or tradition
3. adjective

   disagreeing, especially with a majority
   synonyms: dissentient, dissenting

   negative

   expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial