Definition

1. Noun:
   • Group action in opposition to those in power: Organized effort to fight against or refuse to accept a government, authority, or invading force.
   • An electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current: A component in an electrical circuit that limits the flow of current.
   • (Psychiatry) An unwillingness to bring repressed feelings into conscious awareness: A psychological defense mechanism where a person avoids confronting painful thoughts or emotions.
   • The degree of unresponsiveness of a disease-causing microorganism to antibiotics or other drugs: The ability of a pathogen, like bacteria, to survive and multiply despite the presence of a drug designed to kill it.
   • A secret group organized to overthrow a government or occupation force: An underground organization fighting against a ruling power.
   • The capacity of an organism to defend itself against harmful environmental agents: The natural ability to withstand damage from toxins, pests, or harsh conditions.
   • (Medicine) The condition in which an organism can resist disease: The state of being immune or less susceptible to an illness.
   • The military action of resisting the enemy's advance: The act of fighting against an attacking military force.
   • A material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms: The physical property that determines how much a material impedes electrical flow.
   • Any mechanical force that tends to retard or oppose motion: A force, like friction or drag, that acts against the movement of an object.
   • The action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with: The act of refusing to accept or comply with an idea, plan, or change.

Examples of Usage

• Group action in opposition:
  • The resistance fought bravely against the occupation.
• Electrical device:
  • Replace the burned-out resistance in the circuit.
• Psychiatry:
  • The patient showed strong resistance to discussing his childhood.
• Microorganism unresponsiveness:
  • Antibiotic resistance is a major global health concern.
• Secret group:
  • She was a key member of the French Resistance during WWII.
• Organism's defense capacity:
  • This wheat variety has high resistance to drought.
• Military action:
  • The army's resistance crumbled after three days.
• Material's electrical property:
  • Copper wire has very low resistance.
• Mechanical force:
  • Air resistance slows down a falling object.
• Action of opposing:
  • There was significant resistance to the new policy from the staff.

Advanced Usage

• "The path of least resistance": The easiest course of action, avoiding conflict or difficulty.
  • He always takes the path of least resistance to avoid arguments.
• "To meet with resistance": To be opposed or challenged.
  • The proposal met with fierce resistance from the community.

Variants and Related Words

• Resist (verb): To withstand, oppose, or fight against.
  • They urged the public to resist the new law.
• Resistant (adjective): Having the capacity to withstand.
  • These plants are resistant to frost.
• Resistor (noun): The specific electrical component that provides resistance.
  • A 10-ohm resistor is needed for this circuit.

Synonyms

• Opposition: The act of resisting or competing against.
• Defiance: Open refusal to obey.
• Immunity: Protection or exemption from something, especially disease.
• Impedance: The effective resistance in an AC circuit.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Resist against: (Less common as a phrasal verb; usually just "resist"). To fight or stand firm against.
  • The villagers vowed to resist against the invaders.

Related Idioms

• A pocket of resistance: A small group or area that continues to oppose something when others have stopped.
  • Even after the treaty, a few pockets of resistance remained in the mountains.
• To wear down someone's resistance: To gradually make someone less able or willing to oppose something.
  • After hours of negotiation, they finally wore down his resistance.

Noun

1. group action in opposition to those in power
2. an electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current
3. (psychiatry) an unwillingness to bring repressed feelings into conscious awareness
4. the degree of unresponsiveness of a disease-causing microorganism to antibiotics or other drugs (as in penicillin-resistant bacteria)
5. a secret group organized to overthrow a government or occupation force
6. the capacity of an organism to defend itself against harmful environmental agents
   • these trees are widely planted because of their resistance to salt and smog
7. (medicine) the condition in which an organism can resist disease
8. the military action of resisting the enemy's advance
   • the enemy offered little resistance
9. a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms
10. any mechanical force that tends to retard or oppose motion
11. 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