nonviolence

[ non-vahy-uh-luhns ]
See synonyms for nonviolence on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. absence or lack of violence; state or condition of avoiding violence.

  2. the policy, practice, or technique of refraining from the use of violence, especially when reacting to or protesting against oppression, injustice, discrimination, or the like.

Origin of nonviolence

1
First recorded in 1830–35; def. 2 was brought into prominence by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920–25, and again by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1955–60; non- + violence; possibly a loan translation of Sanskrit ahiṃsā; see origin at ahimsa

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nonviolence in a sentence

  • Doubt has, however, been expressed in some quarters about the soundness of the principle of non-violence.

    Freedom Through Disobedience | C. R. (Chittaranjan) Das
  • If non-violence is essential in our dealings with Government, it is more essential in our dealings with our leaders.

    Freedom's Battle | Mahatma Gandhi
  • The people have understood the secret and the value of non-violence as they have never done before.

    Freedom's Battle | Mahatma Gandhi
  • Every non-co-operator will be inculcated, beaten, outraged but he should strictly maintain non-violence.

    India for Indians | C. R. (Chittaranjan) Das
  • It must be acknowledged that the elimination of war was the direct result of non-violence practiced on a general scale.

    The Skull | Philip K. Dick

British Dictionary definitions for nonviolence

nonviolence

/ (nɒnˈvaɪələns) /


noun
  1. abstention from the use of physical force to achieve goals

Derived forms of nonviolence

  • nonviolent, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012