dissent
Americanverb (used without object)
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to differ in sentiment or opinion, especially from the majority; withhold assent; disagree (often followed byfrom ).
Two of the justices dissented from the majority decision.
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to disagree with the methods, goals, etc., of a political party or government; take an opposing view.
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to disagree with or reject the doctrines or authority of an established church.
noun
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difference of sentiment or opinion.
- Synonyms:
- opposition, dissatisfaction, disagreement
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disagreement with the philosophy, methods, goals, etc., of a political party or government.
- Synonyms:
- opposition, dissatisfaction, disagreement
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separation from an established church, especially the Church of England; nonconformity.
verb
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to have a disagreement or withhold assent
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Christianity to refuse to conform to the doctrines, beliefs, or practices of an established church, and to adhere to a different system of beliefs and practices
noun
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a difference of opinion
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Christianity separation from an established church; Nonconformism
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the voicing of a minority opinion in announcing the decision on a case at law; dissenting judgment
Usage
What's the difference between dissent and descent? Dissent can be a noun meaning disagreement, as in I voiced my dissent, or a verb meaning to disagree, as in The judge is expected to dissent. Descent is a noun that means the act of moving downward (descending), a downward movement, or downward movement in general. The two words are pronounced exactly the same. Perhaps the best way to remember the difference between the two is to think about what related words mean and how they’re spelled. Words related to dissent involve agreement or disagreement and end with -sent, including assent and consent. Words related to descent involve movement and are spelled with sc, including descend, ascent, ascension, and transcend. Here’s an example of dissent and descent used correctly in a sentence. Example: There was dissent among the climbers about whether they should attempt the descent during the storm.
Synonym Usage
Dissent, dissidence mean disagreement with the majority opinion. Dissent may express either withholding of agreement or open disagreement. Dissidence, formerly much the same as dissent, has come to suggest not only strong dissatisfaction but a determined opposition.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nondissentingadjective
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dissentingadjective
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dissentinglyadverb
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dissenternoun
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undissentingadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has dissentedperfect 3rd person singular
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have dissentedperfect
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am dissentingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been dissentingperfect progressive
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are dissentingprogressive
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has been dissentingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is dissentingprogressive 3rd person singular
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dissentingparticiple
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dissentssingular 3rd person
Past
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had dissentedperfect
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were dissentingprogressive plural
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was dissentingprogressive singular
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dissentedsimple
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had been dissentingperfect progressive
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dissentedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of dissent
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English dissenten, from Middle French dissentir, from Latin dissentīre, from dis- dis- 1 + sentīre “to feel”
Explanation
To dissent is to publicly disagree with an official opinion or decision. Dissent is also a noun referring to public disagreement. Both verb and noun are often used in reference to a statement by a judge who disagrees with a decision made by other judges. Dissent is also used to refer to political opposition to government policies. The verb derives from Middle English, from Latin dissentire, from the prefix dis- "apart" plus sentire "to feel."
Vocabulary lists containing dissent
The Hunger Games
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 8
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Common Senses: Sent, Sens ("Feel")
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What I find most disturbing in this instance is Kavanaugh’s dissent.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
In dissent, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, said the Mississippi state courts had concluded that Pitchford’s trial team had forfeited a portion of their argument about racially discriminatory jury selection.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
In Flowers, Justice Clarence Thomas confidently declared in dissent that Mississippi could retry and convict Curtis Flowers.
From Slate • May 28, 2026
Exxon Mobil, facing no dissent from shareholders, won a vote to reincorporate in Texas, where the legal landscape is considered more corporate-friendly than other states.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
Meanwhile, her sister, Arsinoe, was up to her usual tricks, working behind the scenes to sow dissent and confusion.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
