protest

Definition of protest

Etymology

From Middle English protesten < Old French protester < Latin protestare < Latin pro- "before" + testare "to testify" < Latin testis "witness".

Pronunciation

• (verb) enPR: prətĕst', IPA: /prəˈtɛst/, SAMPA: /pr@"tEst/
• Audio (US) ^[?]
• (noun)
  (RP): /ˈprəʊtɛst/, /"pr@UtEst/
  (US): prō'tĕst, /ˈproʊtɛst/, /"proUtEst/
• Audio (US) ^[?]
  Rhymes: -ɛst

Verb

to protest (third-person singular simple present protests, present participle protesting, simple past and past participle protested)

1. (intransitive) to make a strong objection
   
   How dare you, I protest!
   The public took to the streets to protest over the planned change to the law.
   2009, Wikipedia: Cuba: U.S. and European protested against Spanish conduct in Cuba.
   
   
2. (transitive) to affirm something
   
   I protest my innocence.
   
   
3. (transitive, chiefly North American) to object to.
   
   They protested the demolition of the school.

Noun

protest (plural protests)

1. A formal objection, especially one by a group
2. A collective gesture of disapproval, sometimes violent

Synonyms

• dissent
• objection
• protestation

Derived terms

• Protestant
• protestation
• protester
• protest march
• under protest