Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state or condition of being in conflict or disagreement: "opposition" refers to the act or state of resisting, competing against, or being in contrast with something or someone.
   • A person, group, or force that opposes, competes, or stands in the way of another: It can denote the people or parties who are against a particular policy, government, or idea.
   • The relation between two things that are directly facing or positioned against each other: In astronomy or logic, it can describe a specific positional relationship, such as celestial bodies being on opposite sides of a point.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The new policy faced strong opposition from environmental groups.
  • In chess, the king is in opposition to the opponent's king when they stand on the same rank or file with one square between them.
  • The leader of the Opposition criticized the government's budget in parliament.

Advanced Usage

• "in opposition to": being against or in conflict with something.
  • She spoke in opposition to the proposed law.
• "the Opposition" (capitalized): In parliamentary systems, the major political party or coalition that is not in government.
  • The Prime Minister will debate the leader of the Opposition tomorrow.

Variants and Related Words

• Oppose (verb): to be against or resist something.
  • Many citizens oppose the new tax.
• Opposite (adjective/noun): directly facing or contrary.
  • They live on opposite sides of the street.
• Opponent (noun): a person who competes against or disagrees with another in a contest, game, or argument.
  • He shook hands with his opponent after the match.

Synonyms

• Resistance: the refusal to accept or comply with something.
• Antagonism: active hostility or opposition.
• Defiance: open resistance or bold disobedience.

Related Phrases

• Face opposition: to encounter resistance or disagreement.
  • The project faced opposition from local residents.
• Stiff/strong opposition: intense or powerful resistance.
  • The reforms met with stiff opposition from traditionalists.

Idioms

• A wall of opposition: a very strong, unified, and seemingly impenetrable resistance.
  • The proposal hit a wall of opposition and was withdrawn.
• In direct opposition to: completely contrary to.
  • His actions were in direct opposition to his stated principles.

Noun

1. the major political party opposed to the party in office and prepared to replace it if elected
   • Her Majesty's loyal opposition
2. an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
   • a soldier must be prepared to kill his enemies
3. a direction opposite to another
4. a body of people united in opposing something
5. a contestant that you are matched against
6. the act of hostile groups opposing each other
   • the government was not ready for a confrontation with the unions
   • the invaders encountered stiff opposition
7. the relation between opposed entities
8. the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
   • he encountered a general feeling of resistance from many citizens
   • despite opposition from the newspapers he went ahead