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Contumacy: meaning, definitions and examples

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contumacy

 

[ kɒnˈtjuːməsi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal context

Contumacy refers to a person's willful disobedience to the authority of a court or legislative body. It is often associated with a refusal to comply with a subpoena or a court order. The term implies a certain degree of defiance against legal authority.

Synonyms

defiance, disobedience, intransigence, obstinacy

Examples of usage

  • His contumacy led to a warrant being issued for his arrest.
  • The judge cited her contumacy during the trial.
  • Despite repeated orders, the defendant's contumacy prompted severe legal repercussions.

Translations

Translations of the word "contumacy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 contumácia

🇮🇳 अवज्ञा

🇩🇪 Widersetzlichkeit

🇮🇩 pemberontakan

🇺🇦 непокора

🇵🇱 niesubordynacja

🇯🇵 不服従

🇫🇷 contumace

🇪🇸 contumacia

🇹🇷 başkaldırı

🇰🇷 불복종

🇸🇦 تمرد

🇨🇿 vzpoura

🇸🇰 vzpoura

🇨🇳 抗拒

🇸🇮 upor

🇮🇸 uppreisn

🇰🇿 бастау

🇬🇪 მოწინააღმდეგეობა

🇦🇿 itaətsizlik

🇲🇽 contumacia

Etymology

The term 'contumacy' originates from the Latin word 'contumacia', which means 'stubbornness' or 'insolence'. The Latin roots can be traced back to 'contumax', meaning 'defiant' or 'rebellious'. This legal term has been in use since the late Middle Ages, primarily in legal contexts within English common law. It reflects a historical emphasis on obedience to the court and authority, particularly in instances where individuals would resist or outright ignore judicial mandates. Contumacy has evolved into a formal term used in modern legal systems to describe noncompliance, thereby retaining its connection to issues of authority and defiance.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,306 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.