civil disobedience

noun

: refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government

Examples of civil disobedience in a Sentence

In an act of civil disobedience, the family sent its tax money to an antiwar organization.

A student organization is encouraging civil disobedience as a way to get the university to change its policies.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Iran’s history, the telegraph played a significant role in political movements, organized protests, and civil disobedience as far back as the late 19th and early 20th centuries. —Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

In 2014, Alinejad founded the My Stealthy Freedom/White Wednesday campaign against compulsory hijab, which is the largest civil disobedience campaign in the history of the Islamic Republic. —CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Anti-ICE actions that try to thwart the brutal and indiscriminate enforcement of immigration laws can become a form of civil disobedience. —George Packer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026

So civil disobedience and noncompliance are indeed justified. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for civil disobedience

• expedience
• obedience

Legal Definition

civil disobedience

noun

civil dis·​obe·​di·​ence

: refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government