Opposition People Strong Years Political Part Noun ˌɒpəˈzɪʃn

• opposition came primarily from students.
• 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.

opposition

1. the act of strongly disagreeing with somebody/something, especially with the aim of preventing something from happening
• Opposition came primarily from students.
• 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 Examples

• 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 spokesman on education
• They received support from the main opposition leaders.
• He has led the political opposition for the past decade.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. contrasting two people or things that are very different
• Leisure is often defined in opposition to work.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from Latin oppositio(n-), from opponere ‘set against’.