resistance

resistance — noun

1. behaviour that shows you will not give in to an attacker, a controlling authorit

1.nounB2
Definition

behaviour that shows you will not give in to an attacker, a controlling authority, or an idea you disagree with — ranging from direct confrontation to quiet refusal

Example

Vikram met the bullying from senior staff with quiet resistance, refusing to be intimidated.

collocation: meet something with resistance

The proposed highway cuts faced strong resistance from local farmers who would lose their land.

collocation: strong resistance / face resistance

Common collocations
  • strong resistance
  • stiff resistance
  • meet resistance
  • face resistance
  • offer resistance
  • resistance to change
  • armed resistance
  • passive resistance
Synonyms
  • opposition

    more general; can describe disagreement without active fighting

  • defiance

    stronger tone; often implies open, bold refusal

  • rebellion

    implies organized, large-scale opposition to authority

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

resistance + to + noun/gerund

show/meet/offer resistance

Usage Note

Frequently used with the prepositions 'to' or 'from' to indicate what is being opposed. Can describe active fighting or passive non-compliance.

Common Mistakes

There was a strong resistant to the idea.
There was strong resistance to the idea.
'resistance' is the noun; 'resistant' is an adjective.

2. a physical force that pushes against a moving object, reducing how fast it can g

2.nounB2
Definition

a physical force that pushes against a moving object, reducing how fast it can go or making it harder to move

Example

Wind resistance slows down a cyclist on a long, open road.

collocation: wind resistance

Push the boat harder — the water resistance here is stronger than I expected.

Common collocations
  • air resistance
  • water resistance
  • wind resistance
  • reduce resistance
  • overcome resistance
  • minimal resistance
Synonyms
  • drag

    technical term in physics/engineering for fluid resistance

  • friction

    specifically the force between two surfaces rubbing together

  • pushback

    informal; can mean physical force or figurative opposition

Antonyms
  • propulsion

    the force that drives an object forward

  • thrust

    forward-driving force, opposite of drag

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + resistance

resistance of + noun

Usage Note

Commonly modified by a noun describing the medium creating the opposing force: wind resistance, water resistance, air resistance. Often combined with verbs like 'overcome', 'reduce', or 'push against'.

3. a measurement of how much a material slows down or blocks the flow of electricit

3.nounB2
Definition

a measurement of how much a material slows down or blocks the flow of electricity through it, usually expressed in ohms

Example

Copper wires have very low resistance, so electricity flows through them easily.

collocation: low / high resistance

Mizuki measured the resistance of the new circuit using a digital multimeter.

measured with a multimeter

Common collocations
  • electrical resistance
  • low resistance
  • high resistance
  • measure resistance
  • resistance in ohms
  • internal resistance
Synonyms
  • impedance

    broader electrical term that includes resistance plus reactance; more technical

  • insulation

    refers to the material or property that blocks current, not a measurement

Antonyms
  • conductivity

    the degree to which a material allows electricity to flow through it

Grammar Patterns

have/offer + [high/low] + resistance

resistance of + [measurement]

Usage Note

Often contrasted with 'conductivity' — high resistance means poor conductivity. Measured in ohms (Ω). In everyday language, 'high resistance' means the material blocks electricity; 'low resistance' means it lets electricity pass.

Common Mistakes

Copper has low resistant.
Copper has low resistance.
'resistance' is the noun form needed here, not the adjective 'resistant'.

4. a secret group of people who work together against an occupying army or an unjus

4.nounB2
Definition

a secret group of people who work together against an occupying army or an unjust government, often hiding their activities from the authorities

Example

During the war, Caleb joined the local resistance to fight against the occupying army.

join + the resistance

Members of the resistance hid food and medical supplies for escaped prisoners in the forest.

Common collocations
  • the Resistance
  • join the resistance
  • resistance fighter
  • resistance movement
  • member of the resistance
  • lead the resistance
Synonyms
  • underground

    shorter form with the same meaning; 'the underground'

  • guerrilla movement

    specifically refers to armed groups that fight using hit-and-run tactics

  • insurgency

    often implies an active rebellion against a government, not necessarily secret

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the + resistance

join/be part of + the resistance

Usage Note

When capitalised as 'the Resistance', this sense often refers to specific historical movements (e.g., the French Resistance in WWII). Frequently appears with verbs like 'joined', 'formed', or 'supported'.

5. the natural ability of a living body to fight illness, prevent infection, or pro

5.nounB2
Definition

the natural ability of a living body to fight illness, prevent infection, or protect itself from harmful substances

Example

Evelyn's doctor said her body's resistance was low after the long illness.

The overuse of antibiotics has led to a worrying rise in drug resistance among bacteria.

collocation: drug resistance / antibiotic resistance

Common collocations
  • natural resistance
  • build up resistance
  • drug resistance
  • antibiotic resistance
  • disease resistance
  • resistance to infection
  • boost resistance
Synonyms
  • immunity

    more specific; often implies full protection gained through vaccination or prior infection

  • defence

    broader term; can refer to the body's overall protective systems

  • tolerance

    the ability to endure a substance without harm, not necessarily to fight it off

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

resistance + to + noun

build up / develop + resistance

Usage Note

In medical contexts, 'drug resistance' or 'antibiotic resistance' refers to bacteria or viruses that stop responding to standard treatments. 'Build up resistance' means strengthening the immune system over time.

Common Mistakes

Eat well to increase your immune.
Eat well to increase your resistance.
'immune' is an adjective; 'immunity' or 'resistance' are the noun forms.
Idioms

resistance — adjective

Word family

  • resist
    verbB1
  • resistant
    adjectiveB2
  • resistible
    adjectiveC1
  • irresistible
    adjectiveB2
  • resistor
    nounC1
  • resister
    nounC2
  • resistive
    adjectiveC2
  • resistivity
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe some form of going against something, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Opposition' is the broadest and most neutral term — it covers any act of disagreeing or standing against an idea, plan, or person, from polite objection to organised protest. 'Defiance' carries a stronger, more emotional tone; it suggests bold, open refusal to obey, often in the face of authority. 'Rebellion' implies organised, often large-scale resistance against established power, frequently with the goal of overthrowing it. 'Pushback' is the most informal and modern, used in workplace or political contexts for organised resistance to a policy or change. For example: a resident might voice opposition to a new building plan, a student might show defiance by ignoring a teacher's instruction, citizens might launch a rebellion against a dictator, and employees might give pushback to a sudden schedule change.

opposition ↗defiancerebellion ↗pushback

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • line of least resistance
  • path of least resistance

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'resistance' entered English in the 1300s through Old French 'resistance', which came from the Latin 'resistentia' — itself built from the prefix 're-' (meaning 'against' or 'back') plus 'sistere' (meaning 'to stand' or 'to stop'). So at its root, resistance literally means 'standing back against' something. Over the centuries, the word expanded from its core sense of physical opposition to cover electrical physics (1820s), medical immunity (late 1800s), and organised political movements (early 1900s).