obedience

noun

obe·​di·​ence ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s 

ə-

1

a

: an act or instance of obeying

b

: the quality or state of being obedient

Children should learn obedience and respect for authority.

2

: a sphere of jurisdiction

landowners within the king's obedience

especially : an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion

under the obedience of the Bishop of Rome

Synonyms

• compliance
• conformity
• submission
• subordination

Examples of obedience in a Sentence

the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits

the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the new Trump administration is engineering what some feel could be described only as ideological obedience. —Karen Hao, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025

Mixed breeds are also welcome at the agility and obedience contests being held at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. —Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025

Westminster also featured agility and obedience championships, held Saturday. —Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025

That in this great giving up of the self, Jesus gave himself in humility and obedience to the kingdom of God. —Lynne Silva-Breen, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin oboedientia "act of obeying" (Medieval Latin also, "sphere of jurisdiction"), noun derivative of oboedient-, oboedient obedient

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing obedience

• in obedience

Rhymes for obedience

• expedience
• disobedience

Kids Definition

obedience

noun

obe·​di·​ence ō-ˈbēd-ē-ən(t)s 

ə-

1

: an act or instance of obeying

2

: the quality or state of being obedient