dissidents
|dis-si-dents|
/ˈdɪsɪdənts/
(dissident)
opposing authority
Etymology
'dissident' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'dissidere,' where 'dis-' meant 'apart' and 'sedere' meant 'to sit.'
'dissident' came via Late Latin/Medieval Latin (present participle 'dissidens' from 'dissidere') into English; its usage in English developed from the idea of 'sitting apart' or 'being in disagreement.'
Initially it referred literally to 'sitting apart' (being separated); over time it evolved to mean 'someone who disagrees' and now commonly denotes a person who opposes official policies or authority.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'dissident': people who publicly disagree with and often oppose official policies, authorities, or the prevailing system (especially in a political context).
Many dissidents were arrested after they organized protests against the government.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/30 10:34