obedience
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being obedient.
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the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance.
Military service demands obedience from its members.
- Synonyms:
- deference, subservience, submission
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a sphere of authority or jurisdiction, especially ecclesiastical.
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Chiefly Ecclesiastical.
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conformity to a monastic rule or the authority of a religious superior, especially on the part of one who has vowed such conformance.
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the rule or authority that exacts such conformance.
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noun
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the condition or quality of being obedient
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the act or an instance of obeying; dutiful or submissive behaviour
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the authority vested in a Church or similar body
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the collective group of persons submitting to this authority See also passive obedience
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of obedience
1150–1200; Middle English < Old French < Latin oboedientia. See obedient, -ence
Explanation
Obedience is behavior that's respectful and mindful of rules and laws. Parents, teachers, and cops all appreciate obedience. If you have a dog, you might have taken it to obedience school. Trainers help teach dogs obedience — obeying commands and showing good behavior. For a dog, obedience consists of things like shaking and lying down on command, coming when called, and going to the bathroom outside. People demonstrate obedience when they follow the law, and kids show obedience when they obey their parents and teachers. Obedience is respectful.
Vocabulary lists containing obedience
The Mayflower Compact (1620)
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"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 2
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"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, Act V
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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.
Curiosity has a way of making obedience conditional.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
As I wrote from prison, “We do not oppose dialogue with the government, nor do we confront it, but rather emphasize obedience to those in authority.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
As firefighter after firefighter testified about their actions during the Lachman fire, a clear theme emerged — the Los Angeles Fire Department’s culture of absolute obedience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
But a court that tolerates such defiance eventually forfeits the right to demand obedience.
From Slate ● Apr. 23, 2026
But, each evening, seconds before the lights were dimmed, as if in obedience to some silent command, the hum of voices would stop and the entire jail would become silent.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
