Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

civil disobedience

noun

/ˈsɪvəl ˌdɪsəˈbiːdɪəns/

Definition

The active refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government or occupying international power, typically through nonviolent means.

Examples

Martin Luther King Jr. practiced civil disobedience during the Civil Rights Movement.
Many people engaged in civil disobedience to protest climate change policies.
Thoreau’s essay on civil disobedience inspired many activists around the world.

Meaning

Civil disobedience is a form of protest where individuals deliberately break laws they believe are unjust, highlighting their opposition to those laws to bring about social or political change.