resistance

1 of 2

noun

re·​sis·​tance ri-ˈzi-stən(t)s 

plural resistances

1

a

: an act or instance of resisting : opposition

b

: a means of resisting

2

: the power or capacity to resist: such as

a

: the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (such as disease, toxic agents, or infection)

b

: the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (such as a drug) formerly effective against it

3

: an opposing or impeding force

4

a

: the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current

b

: a source of resistance

5

: a psychological defense mechanism wherein a patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes the therapeutic efforts of a psychotherapist

6

often capitalized : an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators

resistance

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being exercise involving pushing or pulling against a source of resistance (such as a weight) to increase strength

resistance training

Synonyms

Noun

• opposition
• objection

Examples of resistance in a Sentence

Noun

They have shown a stubborn resistance to change.

The troops met heavy resistance as they approached the city.

The paint shows good weather resistance.

Over time the patient could develop a resistance to the drug.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This reduces side effects and lowers the risk of antibiotic resistance. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025

Even if bitcoin is running into resistance at the $100,000-$110,000 level, other bets in the crypto market have taken off, including the digital assets infrastructure providers, such as Coinbase, which rose by 40% in June, its best month since last November. —Afshan Musani, CNBC, 7 July 2025

Physical resistance is not required on the part of the victim to demonstrate lack of consent. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2025

Reasons that success hasn’t been forthcoming range from overly ambitious plans to poor governance, political resistance, and bureaucratic quagmire in dealing with federal, state, and other entities. —Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1956, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing resistance

• cross-resistance
• insulin resistance
• insulin resistance syndrome
• offered no resistance
• offer resistance
• passive resistance
• take/follow the path/line of least resistance

Rhymes for resistance

• assistance
• consistence
• desistance
• existence
• insistence
• persistence
• subsistence
• coexistence
• nonexistence
• distance
• magnetoresistance

Kids Definition

resistance

noun

re·​sis·​tance

ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s

1

a

: an act or instance of resisting : opposition

b

: a method of resisting

2

: the ability to resist

the body's resistance to disease

3

: an opposing or slowing force

4

: the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current

5

: a source of resistance

6

often capitalized : a secret organization in a conquered or nearly conquered country fighting against enemy forces

Medical Definition

resistance

noun

re·​sis·​tance ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s 

1

a

: power or capacity to resist

especially : the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (as disease, toxic agents, or infection)

b

: the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (as a drug) formerly effective against it due to genetic mutation and selection for and accumulation of genes conferring protection from the agent especially as a result of overuse of the agent which selectively destroys individual microorganisms lacking the protective genes

2

a

: the opposition offered by a body to the passage through it of a steady electric current

b

: opposition or impediment to the flow of a fluid (as blood or respiratory gases) through one or more passages see vascular resistance

3

: a psychological defense mechanism wherein a psychoanalysis patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes therapeutic efforts by the analyst