protester
UK: prəˈtɛstə | US: prəˈtɛstər
n. a person who publicly demonstrates opposition to something, often through marches or rallies
n. an individual who formally objects or disputes a decision or action
The word "protester" combines "protest," derived from Latin protestari ("to declare publicly, testify"), with the English agent suffix "-er." The Latin root pro- ("forth, publicly") + testari ("to witness") reflects the act of voicing dissent openly. Over time, "protest" evolved to mean organized opposition, and "-er" was added to denote a person engaged in such actions. The term gained prominence in the 20th century with the rise of social movements.
The protester held a sign demanding climate action.
Police arrested a protester for blocking traffic during the demonstration.
She became a vocal protester after the policy change affected her community.
The protesters gathered outside the courthouse to demand justice.
Journalists interviewed several protesters about their motivations.