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
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
Routine also supports easier training, as incorporating obedience lessons into daily schedules reinforces learning through consistency.
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The plan does not cover pre-existing conditions, training or obedience classes and more.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2025
The dogs' puppy raisers are volunteers who will spend the next 16 or so months socializing the puppies, teaching the dogs basic obedience, and providing them with a healthy diet, so the canines are prepared for more specialized service dog training in the future.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
The Dark Hearts biker gang being targeted by Robbie has its own internal code, rigorously enforcing obedience but also offering members kinship, even a warped kind of mentorship.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
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Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The plan does not cover pre-existing conditions, training or obedience classes and more.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2025
The dogs' puppy raisers are volunteers who will spend the next 16 or so months socializing the puppies, teaching the dogs basic obedience, and providing them with a healthy diet, so the canines are prepared for more specialized service dog training in the future.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
The Dark Hearts biker gang being targeted by Robbie has its own internal code, rigorously enforcing obedience but also offering members kinship, even a warped kind of mentorship.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
Cite this Entry
“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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