protest

1.

/ˈproʊˌtɛst/

a formal and solemn declaration of objection

2.

/prəˈtɛst/

utter words of objection

Other forms: protested; protests; protesting

A protest is a formal declaration of objection. If students at your school are fed up with the overly restrictive dress code, they might stage a protest. Washington, D.C. is often the site of political protests.

Protest is both a noun and a verb. You've probably seen news about protests, because people all over the world organize them when they need to get a message across urgently. A protest doesn't have to be on the world scale, however. You might protest against eating frozen pizza for the third night in a row, and you've certainly seen a little kid protest against going to bed. When protest is political, it's also known as dissent.

Definitions of protest (/ˈproʊˌtɛst/)

1. noun

   a formal and solemn declaration of objection
   “they finished the game under protest to the league president”

   “the senator rose to register his protest”

   synonyms: protestation

   type of:

   objection

   the speech act of objecting
2. noun

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

   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

   the act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval
   “he shouted his protests at the umpire”

   “a shower of protest was heard from the rear of the hall”

   type of:

   objection

   the speech act of objecting