nonviolence
Americannoun
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absence or lack of violence; state or condition of avoiding violence.
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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.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nonviolence
First recorded in 1830–35; nonviolence 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 ( def. )
Explanation
When you protest peacefully or work for social changes without resorting to violence, that's nonviolence. Two of the most famous proponents of nonviolence were Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolence is a principle, a personal value system, or a way of life. People who practice nonviolence live their lives harming as few other people (or animals, often) as possible. Many political protesters use nonviolence as a tactic during demonstrations, such as sit-ins, die-ins, and other forms of civil disobedience. Once Gandhi used the word nonviolence in this way in 1920, the word became associated with social and political activism.
Vocabulary lists containing nonviolence
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (1968)
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October Words
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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.
While Aang’s saga follows the trajectory of Western fantasies that revolve around a Chosen One, his stubborn insistence on nonviolence and befriending perceived enemies reflects Miyazaki’s reverence for empathy, innocence and life’s natural beauty.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
The nonviolence resulted from the organizers’ message to, and training for, rally attendees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025
And it only confused and offended Kennedy further when Smith tried to warn him that sometime in the not-too-distant future even those who preached nonviolence, like himself, would become fed up.
From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2025
A city-ordered 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. downtown curfew that began Tuesday — along with many protesters’ calls for nonviolence — appeared to quell some of the late-night violence and property damage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2025
That autumn, on October 14, 1964, I heard that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating a policy of nonviolence.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
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.
