disobedience

UK: ˌdɪs.əˈbiː.di.əns | US: ˌdɪs.oʊˈbiː.di.əns

Definition
  1. n. refusal or failure to obey rules, laws, or authority

  2. n. intentional resistance to a command or expectation

Structure
dis <not, opposite of>obey <to follow orders>ience <noun suffix indicating state or quality>
Etymology

The word "disobedience" originates from the Latin disobedientia, combining dis- (a prefix meaning "apart" or "opposite") and oboedire ("to obey"). The root obey traces back to Latin obaudire (ob- "toward" + audire "to hear"), reflecting the idea of listening to authority. Over time, dis- negated this action, forming "disobedience" to describe defiance. The suffix -ience (from Latin -ientia) nominalizes the state of refusing compliance.

Examples
  1. The child's disobedience led to a timeout.

  2. Civil disobedience can be a powerful tool for social change.

  3. Her disobedience of the rules resulted in a fine.

  4. The protest was an act of peaceful disobedience.

  5. Chronic disobedience may indicate deeper behavioral issues.