protestation

American  

[prot-uh-stey-shuhn, proh-tuh-, -te-] / ˌprɒt əˈsteɪ ʃən, ˌproʊ tə-, -tɛ- /

noun

1. the act of protesting or affirming.

2. a solemn or earnest declaration or affirmation.

3. formal expression or declaration of objection, dissent, or disapproval; protest.

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protestation British  

/ ˌprəʊtɛsˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of protesting

2. something protested about

3. a strong declaration

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Other Word Forms

• nonprotestation noun

Etymology

Origin of protestation

1300–50; Middle English protestacio ( u ) n < Late Latin prōtestātiōn- (stem of prōtestātiō ) declaration. See protest, -ation

Example Sentences

“I don’t deserve to be here at all” is a protestation you would expect to hear from someone in prison.

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024

By titling his book “Crooked,” Masters not only evokes the archaic language of the 1920s but President Richard M. Nixon’s famous protestation: “I am not a crook.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2023

As a writer, Vuillard has drawn on this background of protestation and distrust of power structures to produce a succession of short, biting historical narratives, distinguished by a tone of ironic exasperation.

From New York Times • Apr. 24, 2023

“But then I think a large part of that energy was a protestation to across the street.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2023

In the next year or two, however, I will be losing my claim to this familiar protestation.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan