resistance

1 of 2

noun

re·​sis·​tance ri-ˈzi-stən(t)s How to pronounce resistance (audio)
plural resistances
1
a
: an act or instance of resisting : opposition
b
: a means of resisting
2
: the power or capacity to resist: such as
a
: the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (such as disease, toxic agents, or infection)
b
: the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (such as a drug) formerly effective against it
3
: an opposing or impeding force
4
a
: the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current
b
: a source of resistance
5
: a psychological defense mechanism wherein a patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes the therapeutic efforts of a psychotherapist
6
often capitalized : an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators

resistance

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being exercise involving pushing or pulling against a source of resistance (such as a weight) to increase strength
resistance training

Examples of resistance in a Sentence

Noun They have shown a stubborn resistance to change. The troops met heavy resistance as they approached the city. The paint shows good weather resistance. Over time the patient could develop a resistance to the drug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There still exists a culture of resistance to accessing VA services, stemming largely from generational trauma, Baldwin said, including the long history of mistreatment by the government. The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 One Central Asian Ambassador privately admitted to me that advanced semiconductors are illicitly pouring into Russia from his country, with barely any resistance or even detection from any government officials. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 The movie follows a resistance movement led by the warrior queen Sarraounia, a historical figure who fought against the French in 1899 in what is now Niger. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024 Asked about the thorny approval process of the village's first affordable housing development, Haller commended the board of appeals' thoughtfulness in weighing neighborhood resistance with village ordinances and priorities. Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024 The portable Bluetooth speaker is one of our favorites, delivering pristine, detailed sound with a lot of bass, along with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 19 Mar. 2024 And research backs this up: A 2020 meta-analysis of 13 studies concluded that resistance exercises can significantly improve balance for both adults and older folks. Christa Sgobba, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024 Mary’s designs were a symbol of her pride and resistance, especially as her letters were under constant surveillance. Pragya Agarwal, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 But before Zone, the 45-year-old German actor was best known for playing famed anti-Nazi resistance fighter Georg Elser in 13 Minutes, Oliver Hirschbiegel’s 2015 drama about Elsner’s attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939, before World War II and before the Holocaust. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resistance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of resistance was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near resistance

Cite this Entry

“Resistance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resistance. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

resistance

noun
re·​sis·​tance
ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s
1
a
: an act or instance of resisting : opposition
b
: a method of resisting
2
: the ability to resist
the body's resistance to disease
3
: an opposing or slowing force
4
: the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current
5
: a source of resistance
6
often capitalized : a secret organization in a conquered or nearly conquered country fighting against enemy forces

Medical Definition

resistance

noun
re·​sis·​tance ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s How to pronounce resistance (audio)
1
a
: power or capacity to resist
especially : the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (as disease, toxic agents, or infection)
b
: the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (as a drug) formerly effective against it due to genetic mutation and selection for and accumulation of genes conferring protection from the agent especially as a result of overuse of the agent which selectively destroys individual microorganisms lacking the protective genes
2
a
: the opposition offered by a body to the passage through it of a steady electric current
b
: opposition or impediment to the flow of a fluid (as blood or respiratory gases) through one or more passages see vascular resistance
3
: a psychological defense mechanism wherein a psychoanalysis patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes therapeutic efforts by the analyst

More from Merriam-Webster on resistance

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