- [uncountable, singular] the act of strongly disagreeing with somebody/something, especially with the aim of preventing something from happening
- Opposition came primarily from students.
- opposition to somebody/something Delegates expressed strong opposition to the plans.
- He spent five years in prison for his opposition to the regime.
- They mounted an effective opposition to the bill.
- There was widespread opposition to the war.
- The army met with fierce opposition in every town.
- The proposal faced stiff opposition.
- We cannot back down at the first sign of opposition.
- opposition forces (= people who are arguing, fighting, etc. with another group)
- Greens are prominent among opposition groups in several countries.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2- Many people have voiced their opposition to these proposals.
- The Democrats are unlikely to drop their opposition to his nomination.
- The authorities succeeded despite bitter opposition from teachers.
- We will brook no opposition to the strategy.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- considerable
- determined
- …
- express
- voice
- mount
- …
- come from somebody
- force
- group
- movement
- …
- against opposition
- in the face of opposition
- despite opposition
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [uncountable] the act of competing against somebody in a contest
- She won against determined opposition from last year's champion.
- He is expected to face stiff opposition from countryman, Scott, who has also emerged as a leading contender.
- the opposition[singular + singular or plural verb] the people you are competing against in business, a competition, a game, etc.
- He's gone to work for the opposition.
- The opposition is/are mounting a strong challenge to our business.
- Liverpool couldn't match the opposition in the final and lost 2–0.
- the Opposition(North American English the opposition)[singular + singular or plural verb] the main political party that is opposed to the government; the political parties that are in a parliament but are not part of the government
- the leader of the Opposition
- Opposition MPs/politicians/parties
- the Opposition spokesperson on education
- They received support from the main opposition leaders.
- He has led the political opposition for the past decade.
WordfinderTopics Politicsb2Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- loyal
- democratic
- party
- candidate
- leader
- …
- in opposition
- the Leader of the Opposition
- [uncountable, countable] (formal) the state of being as different as possible; two things that are as different as possible
- the opposition between good and evil
- His poetry is full of oppositions and contrasts.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin oppositio(n-), from opponere ‘set against’.
Idioms
See opposition in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee opposition in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishin opposition
- (of a political party) forming part of a parliament but not part of the government
- They returned to power after six years in opposition.
- The Conservative Party is now in opposition.
in opposition to somebody/something
- disagreeing strongly with somebody/something, especially with the aim of preventing something from happening
- We found ourselves in opposition to several colleagues on this issue.
- Protest marches were held in opposition to the proposed law.
- contrasting two people or things that are very different
- Leisure is often defined in opposition to work.
Check pronunciation:
opposition