dissident
Americannoun
adjective
adjective
noun
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
Explanation
If you are a dissident, you are a person who is rebelling against a government. Dissidents can do their work peacefully or with violence. Dissident is closely related to the word, dissent, which means objecting. People who are dissidents show their dissent. Catholic priests who advocate allowing women into the priesthood could be called dissidents, as could the Puritans who left England to live in colonial America. As an adjective, a dissident member of a group is one who disagrees with the majority of members.
Vocabulary lists containing dissident
Power Prefix: dis-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Refugee
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
My own family fled after the 2021 military coup when my mother was put on a wanted list for being a prominent dissident.
From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026
Anna Kwok of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, another bountied dissident, has warned that Beijing can use these diplomatic outposts to carry out transnational repression in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Although some dissident guerrilla groups remain active, the deal brought about a transformation for Colombia -- about 13,000 fighters and collaborators demobilized and returned to civilian life.
From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026
A family dispute has also caught attention: his sister Badri fell out with her family in the 1980s and fled to Iraq in the war to join her husband, a dissident cleric.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
A few days ago, Mr. Washburn was issued revised orders to vacate the compound and have no further dealings with any dissident elements.
From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez
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.
