dissident

American  

[dis-i-duhnt] / ˈdɪs ɪ dənt /

noun

1. a person who dissents.

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adjective

1. disagreeing or dissenting, as in opinion or attitude.

   a ban on dissident magazines.

dissident British  

/ ˈdɪsɪdənt /

adjective

1. disagreeing; dissenting

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noun

1. a person who disagrees, esp one who disagrees with the government

Other Word Forms

• antidissident noun
• dissidence noun
• dissidently adverb
• nondissident adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissident

1525–35; < Latin dissident- (stem of dissidēns, present participle of dissidēre to sit apart), equivalent to dis- dis- ¹ + -sid- (combining form of sed- repair ¹ ) + -ent- -ent

Example Sentences

Everyone in the stellar cast, composed of dissident artists with varying degrees of experience in front of the camera, was aware of the risks it entailed.

From Los Angeles Times

Former intelligence agents and dissidents who monitor Cuba’s security apparatus estimate that some 140 officers were assigned to provide personal security services to Maduro.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are always dissidents, but it took a pair of Israeli psychologists—Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky—to finally make it impossible for economists to ignore human folly.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s rather mixed feelings. I have joy, joy for Belarusian people,” said dissident leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the internationally recognized winner of the 2020 elections, whose own husband numbered among those released this year.

From The Wall Street Journal

She has spent years behind bars, and gained global attention for speaking out against the oppression of women and torture of dissidents under Iran’s theocratic regime.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• protester
• rebel
• separatist