dissent

1 of 2

verb

dis·​sent di-ˈsent 

dissented; dissenting; dissents

intransitive verb

1

: to withhold assent or approval

2

: to differ in opinion

Three of the justices dissented from the majority opinion.

dissent

2 of 2

noun

: difference of opinion

heard voices of dissent at the meeting

: such as

a

: religious nonconformity

permitted no dissent from church teachings

b

law : a justice's nonconcurrence with a decision of the majority

cited an earlier case in her dissent

called also dissenting opinion

c

: political opposition to a government or its policies

attempts to suppress domestic dissent

Synonyms

Verb

• differ
• disagree
• nonconcur

Noun

• conflict
• disaccord
• discord
• discordance
• discordancy
• disharmony
• dissension
• dissention
• dissidence
• dissonance
• disunion
• disunity
• division
• friction
• infighting
• inharmony
• schism
• strife
• variance
• war
• warfare

Examples of dissent in a Sentence

Verb

The Supreme Court, with two justices dissenting, ruled that the law was constitutional.

anyone who dissented was encouraged to speak out while they had the chance

Noun

Church leaders permitted no dissent from church teachings.

He did everything in his power to suppress political dissent.

These dissents come from prominent scientists and should not be ignored.

She argued in her dissent that Congress had exceeded its authority.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In 2005, when the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed Gull's finding that Corcoran was competent, then-Justice Robert Rucker wrote in a dissenting opinion that Corcoran is seriously mentally ill. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 16 Dec. 2024

Encouraging dissenting opinions and creating a culture where team members feel safe challenging assumptions can help counterbalance overly negative outlooks. —Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Noun

Last year, the city toughened its national security law, and vocal political dissent has largely been silenced. —Katie Tam and Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

And the source of the dissent should come as no surprise. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Latin dissentire, from dis- + sentire to feel — more at sense

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1585, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dissent

1 of 2 verb

dis·​sent dis-ˈent 

: to differ in opinion : disagree

dissent

2 of 2 noun

: difference of opinion

Legal Definition

dissent

1 of 2 intransitive verb

dis·​sent di-ˈsent 

1

: to withhold assent or approval

unfair squeezeout transactions—the kind to which public shareholders seem most likely to dissent

—R. C. Clark

see also appraisal

Note: A shareholder who dissents from a proposed transaction may demand that the corporation buy his or her shares after an appraisal.

2

: to differ in opinion

especially : to disagree with a majority opinion

three of the justices dissented

compare concur

dissenter noun

dissent

2 of 2 noun

1

: difference of opinion

especially : a judge's disagreement with the decision of the majority

2

: dissenting opinion at opinion

3

: the judge or group of judges that dissent compare majority