opposition
Pluraloppositions (some meanings)
- 1The act of resisting, fighting against, or being in conflict with someone or something.
Like two forces pressing against each other, with neither one giving way.
The proposal ran into stiff opposition from residents worried about traffic.
Years of opposition from labor unions finally forced the company to negotiate.
UsageOpposition to a plan comes from people: face stiff opposition from residents, her opposition to the changes.
Similarresistance, hostility, objection, dissent, conflict
- 2A political party or movement that opposes the party or government currently holding power.
The opposition accused the government of ignoring rising unemployment.
After losing the vote, the former ruling party settled into life as the opposition.
UsageUsually with the: the opposition, leader of the opposition; an adjective can bring a: a weak opposition.
Oppositegovernment
Note
In Westminster-style parliaments the word names an institution, not just whoever happens to disagree. Broadly it means the parties outside government; the official opposition is usually the largest of them, whose job is to scrutinize the government, challenge its legislation and present itself as an alternative administration. Hence the fixed title leader of the opposition.
- 3The rival person, team, or company that someone is up against in a game, contest, or market, usually spoken of as "the opposition".
The coach warned his players not to underestimate the opposition on Saturday.
Before launching its app, the startup spent months studying the opposition's pricing.
Similarcompetition, opponents, rivals, competitors
- 4The state of being opposite to something, or in direct contrast with it.
The senator's stance on the issue is in clear opposition to her party's platform.
These two theories exist in opposition, each explaining the same data differently.
UsageUsually in opposition to something, or two things in opposition: in direct opposition to her party's platform.
Similarcontrast, contradiction
Note
Here nothing is being fought; two things simply stand on opposite sides. The phrase in opposition to is shared with the sense of active resistance. If someone is doing the opposing, as politicians do against a bill, it belongs there. If the contrast lies in the things themselves, it belongs here.
Less common meanings
- 5In astronomy, the position of two celestial bodies on opposite sides of the sky as seen from Earth, 180 degrees apart in celestial longitude.
Astronomers planned their observations for the night of Jupiter's opposition.
At opposition, Saturn appears larger and brighter through a telescope.
UsageA planet is at opposition or reaches opposition.
Oppositeconjunction
Note
Astronomers nearly always mean opposition to the Sun. A superior planet or the Moon then lies 180° from it in celestial longitude, so the two sit on roughly opposite sides of Earth's sky. For a planet this falls near closest approach and peak brightness, which is why observers plan around it.
- 6In US trademark law, a proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in which a party tries to stop a mark from being registered.
- 7In logic, the difference in quantity or quality between two propositions that share the same subject and predicate.
- 8In chess, a king-versus-king situation where the player forced to move must give way, allowing the opponent's king to advance.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Middle English opposicioun, from Old French oposicion, from Late Latin oppositiō, which translated the Ancient Greek antíthesis. That Latin form goes back to the verb oppōnō ('I set against'), making it equivalent to oppose plus -ition.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
- Opposition comes through Middle English opposicioun and Old French oposicion from Late Latin oppositiō. en.wiktionary.org
- Late Latin oppositiō translated Ancient Greek antíthesis. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin noun derives from the verb oppōnō. en.wiktionary.org
- Oppōnō means 'I set against'. en.wiktionary.org
- Opposition is equivalent in formation to oppose plus -ition. en.wiktionary.org