contumacy

noun

con·​tu·​ma·​cy kən-ˈtü-mə-sē 

-ˈtyü-;

ˈkän-tü-,

-tyü-,

-chə- 

: stubborn resistance to authority

specifically : willful contempt of court

Synonyms

• balkiness
• contrariness
• defiance
• disobedience
• frowardness
• insubordination
• intractability
• obstreperousness
• rebellion
• rebelliousness
• recalcitrance
• refractoriness
• unruliness
• waywardness
• willfulness

Examples of contumacy in a Sentence

a rogue archbishop who was excommunicated on grounds of contumacy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contumacie, from Anglo-French, from Latin contumacia, from contumac-, contumax rebellious

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

contumacy

noun

con·​tu·​ma·​cy kən-ˈtü-mə-sē, -ˈtyü-; ˈkän-tə-mə-sē, -tyə- 

: willful disobedience of a court order

contumacious

ˌkän-tü-ˈmā-shəs, -tyü- 

adjective

Etymology

Latin contumacia, literally, defiance, obstinacy