opposition
pronunciation
How to pronounce opposition in British English:
UK [ˌɒpəˈzɪʃn]
How to pronounce opposition in American English:
US [ˌɑːpəˈzɪʃn]
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- Noun:
- the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
- the relation between opposed entities
- the act of opposing groups confronting each other
- a contestant that you are matched against
- a body of people united in opposing something
- a direction opposite to another
- an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
- a political party opposed to the party in power and prepared to replace it if elected
Word Origin
- opposition (n.)
- late 14c., an astrological term for the situation of two heavenly bodies exactly across from one another in the heavens, from Old French oposicion (12c.) or directly from Latin oppositionem (nominative oppositio) "act of opposing, a placing against," noun of action from past participle stem of opponere "set against" (see opponent). Meaning "that which is opposite something else" is from 1540s; meaning "contrast, antagonism" first attested 1580s; sense of "political party opposed to the one in power" is from 1704. Related: Oppositional.
Example
- 1. All opposition political parties are banned .
- 2. America desperately needs a strong opposition .
- 3. One element of the opposition to him is islamic .
- 4. It is the biggest and best organised opposition force in syria .
- 5. Opposition figures have been harassed .