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nonviolence
[ non-vahy-uh-luhns ]
/ nɒnˈvaɪ ə ləns /
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noun
absence or lack of violence; state or condition of avoiding violence.
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.
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Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Compare passive resistance.
Origin of nonviolence
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
Words nearby nonviolence
nonvenomous, nonverbal, nonverbal communication, nonviable, nonvintage, nonviolence, nonviolent, nonviolent resistance, nonviscous, nonvolatile, nonvoter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use nonviolence in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for nonviolence
nonviolence
/ (nɒnˈvaɪələns) /
noun
abstention from the use of physical force to achieve goals
Derived forms of nonviolence
nonviolent, adjectiveCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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