conscientious objection

American  

noun

1. refusal on moral or religious grounds to serve in the armed forces or to bear arms in a military conflict.

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Other Word Forms

• conscientious objector noun

Etymology

Origin of conscientious objection

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Unlike the UK bill, the original Holyrood bill included a conscientious objection provision, stating that individuals or organisations must not be "subject to any detriment" if they opt out.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Bishop Kryvytskyi said that he and his colleagues at the same time have taken up the cause of those Ukrainians who have been convicted on charges stemming from their conscientious objection to fighting.

From Washington Times • Nov. 5, 2023

Mistaken, “of course,” Akst writes, about U.S. participation in World War II, for which they offered no realistic alternative, pacifists moved from conscientious objection to a substantially more wide-ranging reform agenda.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 16, 2022

The military has, for generations, made inquiries into how conscientious a conscientious objection really is; immigration officials may make similar inquiries into a green-card-conferring marriage.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2021

Our conscientious objections to certain shameful things, like injustice, and dishonor, and tyranny, and systematic cruelty, are stronger than our conscientious objection to fighting.

From Fighting For Peace by Van Dyke, Henry