verb
Uncommon
dissent
dih-SEHNT
Dissent (verb) means to disagree, especially with an official view or decision. Example: “One judge dissented from the majority ruling.”
verb
1
To disagree, especially with an official view or decision.
"One judge dissented from the majority ruling."
noun
1
Disagreement with an official or widely-held position.
"The government cracked down on political dissent."
"She wrote a dissent explaining why she voted against the ruling."
How to use dissent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo disagree, or the act/expression of disagreeing, especially with authority.
Common mistake
As a noun, "dissent" is usually uncountable ("voice dissent"), though "a dissent" can refer to a specific written judicial opinion.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
voice dissent
political dissent
dissent from a ruling
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Word forms
- Plural
- dissents
- Third person singular
- dissents
- Past tense
- dissented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
One judge _____ from the majority ruling.
Etymology
From Latin dissentire, "to disagree," from dis- + sentire ("to feel, think").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dissent” mean?
The word “dissent” means to disagree, especially with an official view or decision. In plain terms, to disagree, or the act/expression of disagreeing, especially with authority.
How do you pronounce “dissent”?
“Dissent” is pronounced dih-SEHNT (/dɪˈsɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “dissent” in a sentence?
Here is “dissent” used in a sentence: “One judge dissented from the majority ruling.”
What is the opposite of “dissent”?
The opposite of “dissent” — its antonyms — are agree, assent, follow, allow and accept.
What part of speech is “dissent”?
Depending on how it is used, “dissent” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “dissent” come from?
The word “dissent” comes from Latin. From Latin dissentire, "to disagree," from dis- + sentire ("to feel, think").
Is “dissent” a common word?
“Dissent” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dissent” have?
“Dissent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to disagree, especially with an official view or decision.
What is the difference between dissent and disagreement?
Dissent specifically refers to disagreeing with an official, widely-held, or authoritative position, often in a public or political context. Disagreement is a more general term that can apply to any difference of opinion, regardless of whether an official view is involved.
Is dissent used mainly in political or legal contexts?
Dissent is especially common in political, legal, and organizational contexts, such as a judge's dissenting opinion or public dissent against a government policy. It can also apply more broadly to disagreement within any group or institution.
What is a dissenting opinion?
A dissenting opinion is a formal statement, often used in legal rulings, in which a judge disagrees with the majority decision and explains their reasoning. The term draws directly on the noun sense of dissent as disagreement with an official position.
