obedience

noun

obe·​di·​ence ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s 

ə-

1

a

: an act or instance of obeying

b

: the quality or state of being obedient

Children should learn obedience and respect for authority.

2

: a sphere of jurisdiction

landowners within the king's obedience

especially : an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion

under the obedience of the Bishop of Rome

Synonyms

• submission
• compliance
• conformity
• submissiveness
• surrender
• subordination

Examples of obedience in a Sentence

the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits

the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command

Recent Examples on the Web

Isolated from the outside world, the commune treats addiction through labor, discipline, obedience and faith. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2025

If your boss demands loyalty, constant praise, and complete obedience—but offers none in return—you’re not just in a toxic job. —Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

As a puppy, Faith received obedience and house-breaking training at a prison for women in Florida. —The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

But there is good reason to believe that an adult who prefers conformity, obedience and uniformity in children also desires the same in society at large. —Adam Eichen, The Conversation, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin oboedientia "act of obeying" (Medieval Latin also, "sphere of jurisdiction"), noun derivative of oboedient-, oboedient obedient

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing obedience

• in obedience

Rhymes for obedience

• expedience
• disobedience

Kids Definition

obedience

noun

obe·​di·​ence ō-ˈbēd-ē-ən(t)s 

ə-

1

: an act or instance of obeying

2

: the quality or state of being obedient