Obedience: meaning, definitions and examples

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obedience

 

[ əˈbiːdiəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in relationships

The act of obeying or following commands, restrictions, rules, or laws. Obedience is often seen as a virtue in many cultures and societies.

Synonyms

compliance, submission, submissiveness

Examples of usage

  • She always showed obedience to her parents' wishes.
  • Blind obedience to authority can be dangerous.
  • The soldiers displayed unwavering obedience to their commanding officer.
Context #2 | Noun

in religious context

The act of complying with the commands or guidance of a higher power or deity. Obedience is considered a key tenet in many religious teachings.

Synonyms

devotion, faithfulness, piety

Examples of usage

  • The monks live a life of obedience to their spiritual leader.
  • Faith requires obedience to the will of God.
Context #3 | Noun

in training animals

The training or conditioning of an animal to respond to specific commands or cues. Obedience training is essential for a pet's safety and well-being.

Synonyms

conditioning, discipline, training

Examples of usage

  • The obedience of the dog to its owner's commands was impressive.
  • Obedience classes can help improve a dog's behavior.

Translations

Translations of the word "obedience" in other languages:

🇵🇹 obediência

🇮🇳 आज्ञाकारिता

🇩🇪 Gehorsam

🇮🇩 ketaatan

🇺🇦 слухняність

🇵🇱 posłuszeństwo

🇯🇵 従順 (じゅうじゅん)

🇫🇷 obéissance

🇪🇸 obediencia

🇹🇷 itaat

🇰🇷 복종 (bokjong)

🇸🇦 طاعة (taa'a)

🇨🇿 poslušnost

🇸🇰 poslušnosť

🇨🇳 服从 (fúcóng)

🇸🇮 poslušnost

🇮🇸 hlýðni

🇰🇿 мойынсыну

🇬🇪 მორჩილება (morčileba)

🇦🇿 itaət

🇲🇽 obediencia

Etymology

The word 'obedience' originated from the Middle English word 'obedience', which came from the Old French word 'obeissance', ultimately derived from the Latin word 'oboedientia', meaning 'obedience' or 'compliance'. The concept of obedience has been emphasized in various religious, social, and cultural contexts throughout history, often associated with notions of duty, respect, and order.

See also: disobey, disobeying, obedient, obediently, obey.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,322 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.