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

Perhaps a sustained campaign of civil disobedience would advance the cause of Palestinian liberation. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024

Voting in the presidential election has seen some acts of civil disobedience, with Russia filing at least 15 criminal cases after people poured dye in ballot boxes, started fires or lobbed Molotov cocktails. —Radina Gigova, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024

The code is often cited when arresting protesters during peaceful planned acts of civil disobedience. —Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023

In Manhattan’s financial district, hundreds more people gathered on Monday morning for mass civil disobedience meant to rattle Biden and Wall Street into action. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 18 Sep. 2023

My mother actually ended up spending time in prison for civil disobedience. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2024

Many women in the country continue their civil disobedience by not wearing obligatory headscarves in public spaces. —Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2023

The pair were arrested and taken into police custody for civil disobedience — but were later released. —Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024

Barber previously served as president of the North Carolina NAACP, leading protests over voter access at the Statehouse that got him and more than 1,000 people arrested for civil disobedience. —Ben Finley, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

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