protest
protest Lexical Profile
protest Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A statement or organized public action expressing strong disapproval of or objection to something.
"Thousands of citizens gathered in the city square to stage a peaceful protest against the new tax policy."
A formal written declaration, typically made by a notary public, that a bill of exchange or promissory note has been refused payment or acceptance.
"The bank issued a formal protest after the international bill of exchange was dishonored."
• verb
To express strong objection to or disapproval of something in public or through formal statements.
"Local residents plan to protest the construction of the highway through the nature reserve."
To declare or affirm something solemnly and emphatically, especially in response to doubt or an accusation.
"The defendant continued to protest his innocence throughout the lengthy trial."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun, stress falls on the first syllable (PRO-test), whereas as a verb, stress usually falls on the second syllable (pro-TEST). In American English, 'protest' is commonly used transitively without a preposition ('protest a decision'), while British English traditionally prefers 'protest against'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French protester, from Latin protestari ('to declare publicly, testify'), formed from pro- ('forth, before') and testari ('to witness, attest'), from testis ('witness').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.