obedience

noun

obe·​di·​ence ō-ˈbē-dē-ən(t)s How to pronounce obedience (audio)
ə-
Synonyms of obedience
1
a
: an act or instance of obeying
b
: the quality or state of being obedient
taught the children obedience and respect for authority
2
: a sphere of jurisdiction
landowners within the king's obedience
especially : an ecclesiastical or sometimes secular dominion
under the obedience of the Bishop of Rome

Synonyms of obedience

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Examples of obedience in a Sentence

the drill sergeant demanded complete and unquestioning obedience from the recruits the cowardly obedience with which the dictator's henchmen followed his every command
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Chronicles of far-right obedience and moral decadence don’t get much more scathing than this. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 Its blinding concentration is awed into submission or obedience. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 Both local teams were certified in four disciplines that show off a police dog’s obedience and skills, that include narcotics and cadaver detection and tracking ability. — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026 Civilian control of the military requires obedience to lawful orders, not blind participation in whatever form of violence a president chooses to rename as war. — Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obedience

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin oboedientia "act of obeying" (Medieval Latin also, "sphere of jurisdiction"), noun derivative of oboedient-, oboedient obedient

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of obedience was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing obedience

Rhymes for obedience

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Browse Nearby Words

obeche
obedience
obediencer
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Cite this Entry

“Obedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

obedience

noun
obe·​di·​ence ō-ˈbēd-ē-ən(t)s How to pronounce obedience (audio)
ə-
1
: an act or instance of obeying
2
: the quality or state of being obedient

More from Merriam-Webster on obedience

Nglish: Translation of obedience for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obedience

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