Definition

1. Noun:
   • One who refuses to serve in the armed forces on grounds of conscience: A person who, due to deeply held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs, refuses to participate in military service, particularly in times of war or conscription.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • During the Vietnam War, many conscientious objectors performed alternative civilian service instead of fighting.
  • He registered as a conscientious objector, stating that his religious faith prohibited him from bearing arms.
  • The country's laws provide a legal process for recognizing someone as a conscientious objector.

Advanced Usage

• "To be recognized/classified as a conscientious objector": To go through an official legal process where one's claim of objection to military service based on conscience is formally accepted by authorities.

  • After a lengthy hearing, the tribunal classified him as a conscientious objector.

• "Selective conscientious objection": The objection to participation in a particular war or conflict, rather than to all wars in principle.

  • His beliefs led him to selective conscientious objection, refusing to serve only in what he deemed an unjust war.

Variants and Related Words

• Conscientious objection (n): The principle or act of refusing military service on grounds of conscience.
  • The right to conscientious objection is protected in some nations' constitutions.

Synonyms

• Pacifist: A person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable. (Note: While all pacifists are likely conscientious objectors, not all conscientious objectors are absolute pacifists; some may object to a specific conflict.)
• Resister: One who refuses to accept or comply with something. In this context, one who resists military conscription.

Related Phrases

• To claim conscientious objector status: To formally apply or declare oneself as a conscientious objector.

  • He went before the draft board to claim conscientious objector status.

• Alternative service: Non-military work performed by a recognized conscientious objector as a substitute for armed service.

  • As a conscientious objector, his alternative service involved working in a hospital.

Noun

1. one who refuses to serve in the armed forces on grounds of conscience