opposition

opposition — noun

1. strong action or feeling against a plan, idea, or group, especially when people

1.nounC1
Definition

strong action or feeling against a plan, idea, or group, especially when people want to stop it

Example

Parents voiced opposition to the new school bus plan.

opposition to + plan

Strong local opposition delayed the airport road for another year.

Common collocations
  • strong opposition
  • public opposition
  • face opposition
  • opposition to reform
  • opposition from residents
Synonyms
  • resistance

    often suggests active effort to stop something over time

  • objection

    is narrower and often means one stated reason for disagreeing

  • protest

    is more public and visible, often involving organized action

  • hostility

    is stronger in feeling and can sound more personal

Antonyms
  • support

    means active agreement or help

  • approval

    focuses on judging something positively

  • acceptance

    suggests willingness to allow or receive something

Grammar Patterns

opposition to something

opposition from someone

face opposition

meet opposition

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. Common after to for the target and from for the people showing resistance. Distinguish from sense 3, which names a political group rather than general resistance.

Common Mistakes

There was strong opposition against the rule.
There was strong opposition to the rule.
this noun usually takes 'to'.
The opposite to the plan was immediate.
Opposition to the plan was immediate.
'opposite' is a different word and does not mean resistance here.

2. the person, team, or group you are trying to beat in a game, debate, race, or ot

2.noun
Definition

the person, team, or group you are trying to beat in a game, debate, race, or other competition

Example

Our opposition scored twice before halftime and changed the match.

the opposition as a team

In the final, Taiwan faced tough opposition from Japan.

sports competition use

Common collocations
  • tough opposition
  • strong opposition
  • face the opposition
  • study the opposition
  • the opposition scored
Synonyms
  • opponent

    is the most direct word for a person or team against you

  • rival

    often suggests a continuing competition over time

  • competitor

    is more neutral and common in business as well as sport

  • challenger

    stresses trying to take a title or position

Antonyms
  • teammate

    is someone on your own side

  • ally

    suggests support rather than competition

Grammar Patterns

the opposition scored

face the opposition

study the opposition

Usage Note

Often used as a singular noun for the whole rival side. It is especially common in sports and debate contexts. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about resistance to an idea or plan.

Common Mistakes

Our opposition were the rain and wind.
Our opposition was the team from Osaka.
this sense is for people or teams you compete against.
The opposition to our plan won the match.
The opposition won the match.
in games, the word itself already means the other side.

3. the main party or parties in parliament that are not in power and aim to replace

3.noun
Definition

the main party or parties in parliament that are not in power and aim to replace the government

Example

The Opposition demanded answers after the train accident.

capitalized political use

A senior Opposition MP spoke outside Parliament at noon.

Opposition MP

Common collocations
  • Leader of the Opposition
  • Opposition MP
  • Opposition leader
  • Opposition benches
  • the Opposition demanded
Synonyms
  • opposition party

    is more explicit and works when the shorter noun might be unclear

  • minority party

    depends on the political system and numbers, so it is not always exact

  • rival party

    is broader and less tied to formal parliamentary structure

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the Opposition

Leader of the Opposition

Opposition MP

Usage Note

Often capitalized in news about parliamentary systems. It refers to a formal political role, not just any people who disagree, unlike sense 1.

Common Mistakes

The opposition in my office dislikes the new chairs.
Some staff oppose the new chairs.
sense 3 is only for formal politics.
Her party joined opposition after losing.
Her party joined the Opposition after losing.
the article and capitalization are normal in this political sense.

4. a relationship in which two things are shown as completely different from each o

4.noun
Definition

a relationship in which two things are shown as completely different from each other

Example

The film places youth and old age in clear opposition.

in clear opposition

Her quiet voice stood in opposition to the crowd's anger.

stand in opposition to

Common collocations
  • clear opposition
  • strong opposition
  • opposition between ideas
  • stand in opposition
  • direct opposition
Synonyms
  • contrast

    is broader and much more common in everyday English

  • antithesis

    is more formal and suggests a very strong rhetorical contrast

  • polarity

    is often technical and can suggest two extreme sides

Antonyms
  • similarity

    focuses on likeness instead of difference

  • harmony

    suggests fitting together rather than standing apart

Grammar Patterns

opposition between A and B

stand in opposition to something

in clear opposition

Usage Note

Formal and common in writing about art, ideas, and theory. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about resisting something, not simply being sharply different from it.

Common Mistakes

There is opposition between tea and coffee prices.
There is a clear contrast between tea and coffee prices.
this sense is for a strong conceptual contrast, often in formal writing.
The two colors were in opposition, so workers protested.
The two colors were in opposition, creating a sharp contrast.
this sense is about difference, not public resistance.
Idioms

in opposition

idiom

serving as the main parliamentary group outside government, rather than holding power

After the election, her party spent four years in opposition.

The Greens are in opposition while the coalition governs.

in opposition to somebody/something

idiom

against someone or something; in formal use, also used to set one thing against another for contrast

Several parents spoke in opposition to the longer school day.

The essay defines freedom in opposition to fear.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, opposition is a fairly neutral but strong word for clear resistance to an idea, plan, or group. Resistance often stresses continued effort to stop something and can be physical, political, or emotional. Objection is narrower and usually means one stated reason for disagreeing. Protest is more public and visible, often involving signs, speeches, or marches. Hostility is stronger in feeling and can describe anger toward people as well as dislike of a proposal. Choose opposition when the pressure comes from many people or from an organized other side. You can talk about opposition to a new road, an objection to one point in a contract, or a street protest against higher bus fares.

resistance ↗objection ↗protest ↗hostility ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Opposition came into English in the Middle English period through French and Latin. At its base is a Latin verb meaning 'to put against' or 'set in the way.' That idea still shows in modern uses: people can show opposition to a plan, parties can stand in opposition in politics, and two ideas can be in opposition when they are sharply different.