opposition

What it means

1. The action of opposing or of being in conflict.

   The two politicians are in opposition to the bill.

   3 more examples

   The proposal met with strong opposition from local residents.

   Terra Firma is an Alliance political party formed after the First Contact War. Its policy agenda is based on the principle that Earth must 'stand firm' against alien influences. This covers a variety of legislation. Recent activities by Terra Firma include opposition to a law requiring high school alien language study, a proposal to increase tariffs on alien imports, and leading a popular movement to mark the First Contact War with a public holiday.

   2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Terra Firma Party Codex entry

   That worries the government, which fears that environmental activism could become the foundation for more general political opposition.

   2013 August 10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

2. An opposite or contrasting position.

   Near-synonym: oppositeness

   1 more example

   These ideas are in opposition to each other.

   Synonyms: oppositeness

3. astronomyThe apparent relative position of two celestial bodies when one is at an angle of 180 degrees from the other as seen from the Earth.

In a sentence

The two politicians are in opposition to the bill.

Where it comes from

1. Latinoppōnō“to set against”
2. Late Latinoppositiō
3. Old Frenchoposicion
4. Middle Englishopposicioun
5. Englishopposition

From Middle English opposicioun, from Old French oposicion (whence French opposition), from Late Latin oppositiō, translating Ancient Greek ἀντίθεσις (antíthesis), from the past participle stem of classical Latin oppōnō (“to set against”). Equivalent to oppose + -ition.