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
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 How on earth did the path of least resistance and keeping the trains on time trump safety, especially with the Olympics a mere five months away? Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 On May 5, 1945, with German capitulation just days away, Polish resistance members entered the camp. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 The image of both women, each a symbol of resistance to Russian President Vladimir Putin, would offer a powerful backdrop to President Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress. Tyler Pager, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Prebble retreated to the U.K., where she was comforted by other British playwrights who’d met resistance on Broadway. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Set in post-Civil War 1945 as the Spanish resistance takes over a mail office in the Pyrenees, run by the redoubtably patriotic Remedios Buendía. John Hopewell, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Tardigrades are famous for their resistance to conditions that exist neither on Earth nor on the Moon. Laurent Palka, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Each red carnation clutched by a supporter of the Russian dissident can be seen as a small act of resistance in a country where the state has cleared the landscape of all political competition. Nathan Hodge, CNN, 1 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 19 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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