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
The unruly dog – who first appeared in DC Comics way back in 1955 – comes in handy at several pivotal moments throughout the movie, in spite his lack of obedience and training.
—
Dan Heching, CNN Money, 12 July 2025
The training program was organized through the sheriff’s police department in that county, which paired dogs with county jail inmates responsible for training and obedience schooling, according to Orland Park.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Today, while many Australian shepherds still work on farms and ranches, many others have found roles in agility sports, obedience competitions, search-and-rescue missions, and even therapy work.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
The regime has perfected a model in which communication is a currency of obedience, and isolation is the most effective form of punishment.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obedience
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Dan Heching, CNN Money, 12 July 2025
The training program was organized through the sheriff’s police department in that county, which paired dogs with county jail inmates responsible for training and obedience schooling, according to Orland Park.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Today, while many Australian shepherds still work on farms and ranches, many others have found roles in agility sports, obedience competitions, search-and-rescue missions, and even therapy work.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
The regime has perfected a model in which communication is a currency of obedience, and isolation is the most effective form of punishment.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 May 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 24 Jul. 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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