insubordination

/ɪnsəbɔrdɪˈneɪʃɪn/

/ɪnsəbɔdɪˈneɪʃən/

Other forms: insubordinations

People in charge — like bosses and teachers — hate insubordination, which means that someone is defying their authority.

When a student is disrespectful to a teacher or says something like "I won't do this homework!", that's an act of insubordination. If a teacher didn't do what the principal wanted, that would also be insubordination. This word is often used in relation to the military, where giving and taking orders is extremely important. A soldier who commits insubordination — by disobeying an order — can be in a lot of trouble. Anywhere there's insubordination, someone with less power (a subordinate) is giving someone with more power a whole lot of trouble.

Definitions of insubordination

1. noun

   defiance of authority
   antonyms:

   subordination

   the quality of obedient submissiveness

   type of:

   defiance, rebelliousness

   intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
2. noun

   an insubordinate act
   synonyms: rebelliousness

   types:

   contumacy

   obstinate rebelliousness and insubordination; resistance to authority

   disobedience, noncompliance

   the failure to obey

   contempt

   a willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body

   contumacy

   willful refusal to appear before a court or comply with a court order; can result in a finding of contempt of court

   type of:

   resistance

   group action in opposition to those in power