resistance

American  

[ri-zis-tuhns] / rɪˈzɪs təns /

noun

1. the act or power of resisting, opposing, or withstanding.

   Synonyms:

   intransigence, defiance, obstinacy, opposition

2. the opposition offered by one thing, force, etc., to another.

3. Electricity.

   1. Also called ohmic resistance.  a property of a conductor by virtue of which the passage of current is opposed, causing electric energy to be transformed into heat: equal to the voltage across the conductor divided by the current flowing in the conductor: usually measured in ohms. R

   2. a conductor or coil offering such opposition; resistor.

4. Psychiatry. opposition to an attempt to bring repressed thoughts or feelings into consciousness.

5. (often initial capital letter) an underground organization composed of groups of private individuals working as an opposition force in a conquered country to overthrow the occupying power, usually by acts of sabotage, guerrilla warfare, etc..

   the resistance during the German occupation in World War II.

6. Stock Exchange. resistance level.

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Resistance ¹ British  

/ rɪˈzɪstəns /

noun

1. an illegal organization fighting for national liberty in a country under enemy occupation, esp in France during World War II

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resistance ² British  

/ rɪˈzɪstəns /

noun

1. the act or an instance of resisting

2. the capacity to withstand something, esp the body's natural capacity to withstand disease

3. 1.  R.  the opposition to a flow of electric current through a circuit component, medium, or substance. It is the magnitude of the real part of the impedance and is measured in ohms Compare reactance

   2. ( as modifier )

      resistance coupling

      a resistance thermometer

4. any force that tends to retard or oppose motion

   air resistance

   wind resistance

5. (in psychoanalytical theory) the tendency of a person to prevent the translation of repressed thoughts and ideas from the unconscious to the conscious and esp to resist the analyst's attempt to bring this about

6. physics the magnitude of the real part of the acoustic or mechanical impedance

7. the easiest, but not necessarily the best or most honourable, course of action

8. See passive resistance

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resistance Scientific  

/ rĭ-zĭs′təns /

1. A force, such as friction, that operates opposite the direction of motion of a body and tends to prevent or slow down the body's motion.

2. A measure of the degree to which a substance impedes the flow of electric current induced by a voltage. Resistance is measured in ohms. Good conductors, such as copper, have low resistance. Good insulators, such as rubber, have high resistance. Resistance causes electrical energy to be dissipated as heat.

3. See also Ohm's law

4. The capacity of an organism, tissue, or cell to withstand the effects of a harmful physical or environmental agent, such as a microorganism or pollutant.

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resistance Cultural  

1. In electricity, a measurement of the difficulty encountered by a power source in forcing electric current (see also current) through an electrical circuit, and hence the amount of power dissipated in the circuit. Resistance is measured in ohms.

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resistance Idioms  

1. see least resistance.

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Other Word Forms

• interresistance noun

Etymology

Origin of resistance

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French; equivalent to resist + -ance

Explanation

If you've ever seen a dog on a leash suddenly refuse to walk any farther, you know how much resistance one little pet can put up. Resistance means "refusal to comply with or accept something." An individual person can put up resistance against something she disagrees with or doesn't want to participate in. On a larger scale, groups of people and even whole countries can display resistance, like when the British put up resistance against Napoleon. Another meaning of resistance is "the ability not to be affected by," like a resistance to getting colds, which you can imagine as your immune system putting up a fierce resistance against invading germs.

Example Sentences

For now, the biological cause of GLP-1 resistance remains unclear and is likely influenced by multiple factors.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Even so, effective treatments for insulin resistance have been developed.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Combining the stochastic oscillator with support and resistance improves results.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

“Making space for subversion and resistance is at the core of what this band is about,” she continued.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Then he makes the hand signal they use in Firestride, the one that means you’re a part of the secret resistance group—that you’re a protector of the planet.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• battle
• defiance
• fight
• intransigence
• protection
• refusal
• struggle
• support