obedience
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being obedient.
-
the act or practice of obeying; dutiful or submissive compliance.
Military service demands obedience from its members.
- Synonyms:
- deference, subservience, submission
-
a sphere of authority or jurisdiction, especially ecclesiastical.
-
Chiefly Ecclesiastical.
-
conformity to a monastic rule or the authority of a religious superior, especially on the part of one who has vowed such conformance.
-
the rule or authority that exacts such conformance.
-
noun
-
the condition or quality of being obedient
-
the act or an instance of obeying; dutiful or submissive behaviour
-
the authority vested in a Church or similar body
-
the collective group of persons submitting to this authority See also passive obedience
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of obedience
1150–1200; Middle English < Old French < Latin oboedientia. See obedient, -ence
Explanation
Obedience is behavior that's respectful and mindful of rules and laws. Parents, teachers, and cops all appreciate obedience. If you have a dog, you might have taken it to obedience school. Trainers help teach dogs obedience — obeying commands and showing good behavior. For a dog, obedience consists of things like shaking and lying down on command, coming when called, and going to the bathroom outside. People demonstrate obedience when they follow the law, and kids show obedience when they obey their parents and teachers. Obedience is respectful.
Vocabulary lists containing obedience
The Mayflower Compact (1620)
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!
"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 2
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!
"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, Act V
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.
But a court that tolerates such defiance eventually forfeits the right to demand obedience.
From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026
When he was a puppy, he attended obedience classes.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
"The Pope is the Pope, we owe him a certain amount of deference, but I don't think that Catholicism wants the obedience of cadavers. We are living, thinking persons," he says.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Padrino was one of few close Maduro allies to have remained in the interim government, having sworn "loyalty and absolute obedience" to Rodriguez.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
The Nazis called this philosophy the “leadership principle,” and it required absolute obedience to superiors.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
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.
