RECUSANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does recusant mean? 

• RECUSANT (noun)
  The noun RECUSANT has 1 sense:

1. someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct

  Familiarity information: RECUSANT used as a noun is very rare.

• RECUSANT (adjective)
  The adjective RECUSANT has 2 senses:

1. (of Catholics) refusing to attend services of the Church of England

2. refusing to submit to authority

  Familiarity information: RECUSANT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RECUSANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

nonconformist; recusant

Hypernyms ("recusant" is a kind of...):

contestant; dissenter; dissident; objector; protester (a person who dissents from some established policy)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "recusant"):

beat; beatnik (a member of the beat generation; a nonconformist in dress and behavior)

bohemian (a nonconformist writer or artist who lives an unconventional life)

enfant terrible (a person whose unconventional behavior embarrasses others)

heretic (a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion))

maverick; rebel (someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action)

Derivation:

recusant (refusing to submit to authority)

recusant ((of Catholics) refusing to attend services of the Church of England)

• RECUSANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of Catholics) refusing to attend services of the Church of England

Synonyms:

dissentient; recusant

Similar:

unorthodox (breaking with convention or tradition)

Derivation:

recusancy (refusal to submit to established authority; originally the refusal of Roman Catholics to attend services of the Church of England)

recusant (someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Refusing to submit to authority

Context example:

the recusant electors...cooperated in electing a new Senate

Similar:

disobedient (not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority)

Derivation:

recusancy (refusal to submit to established authority; originally the refusal of Roman Catholics to attend services of the Church of England)

recusant (someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct)

recuse (disqualify oneself (as a judge) in a particular case)