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direct action
noun
: action that seeks to achieve an end directly and by the most immediately effective means (such as a boycott or strike)
Examples of direct action in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the 1960s, college students led sit-ins guided by the pillars of civil disobedience and nonviolent direct action to protest segregation.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 6 May 2024
The new due diligence requirements apply not only to the direct actions of the company, but also to their subsidiaries and supply chain.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for direct action
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'direct action.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1912, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near direct action
Cite this Entry
“Direct action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/direct%20action. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Legal Definition
direct action
noun1
: an action in which the plaintiff sues a person's insurer without first obtaining a judgment against the insured or joining the insured
2
: a suit by a shareholder for an injury to himself or herself independent from any injury to the corporation
called also individual action
compare derivative actionMore from Merriam-Webster on direct action
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about direct action
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