obedience
C1Formal, but used across all registers. More common in written and official contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The act or habit of following instructions, rules, or commands from an authority.
Compliance with a law, religious doctrine, or moral principle. In dog training, the specific response to commands.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract, uncountable noun. Can imply a positive virtue (e.g., religious obedience) or a negative, uncritical submission. Often linked to hierarchy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. British English may more readily use 'obedience' in specific royal/military contexts (e.g., 'Your Obedience').
Connotations
Similar connotations in both variants, though American English may associate it more strongly with religious contexts or dog training.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
obedience to [authority/law/command]in obedience toobedience from [person/group]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The Obedience of Faith (theological)”
- “Through blind obedience”
- “Render obedience unto Caesar”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used directly; more common in discussions of corporate culture or hierarchy: 'The management demanded unquestioning obedience to the new protocol.'
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and political science discussing authority (e.g., Milgram's obedience experiments), law, and theology.
Everyday
Used in contexts of parenting, pet training, and rules: 'The dog's obedience class starts next week.'
Technical
Specific meaning in dog training (competitive obedience), robotics (programmed obedience), and religious orders (vow of obedience).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The soldiers were ordered to obey.
- He obeys without question.
American English
- The dog obeys the command to sit.
- Citizens must obey the law.
adverb
British English
- The staff performed their duties obediently.
- He nodded obediently and left the room.
American English
- She followed the instructions obediently.
- The device obediently executed the programmed sequence.
adjective
British English
- She was an obedient child.
- The obedient crowd dispersed quietly.
American English
- He has an obedient dog.
- They were obedient to the court order.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Children should learn obedience.
- The dog shows good obedience.
- Drivers must show obedience to traffic laws.
- Her obedience to her parents is admirable.
- The study explored the psychological factors behind blind obedience to authority.
- Monks take a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
- The regime ensured compliance not through persuasion but through enforced obedience and fear.
- Philosophers have long debated the ethical limits of civic obedience to unjust laws.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OBEY' + 'AUDIENCE'. An obedient audience follows the performer's lead.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBEDIENCE IS A PATH (to follow), A BURDEN (to carry), A GIFT (to give to an authority).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'послушание' in all contexts; 'послушание' is more child-focused. 'Obedience' is broader and more formal. 'Подчинение' is closer but has a stronger connotation of subjugation.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an obedience'). Confusing with 'observance' (which is about rules/rituals, not authority). Misspelling as 'obidience'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely synonym for 'obedience' in a formal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can be positive (e.g., obedience to just laws), it is often viewed negatively when it implies uncritical or blind submission, as explored in studies like Milgram's.
'Obedience' specifically implies responding to the command of a recognized authority figure. 'Compliance' is broader and can refer to following rules, requests, or standards without the same hierarchical connotation.
Almost never in modern English. It is a non-count (uncountable) noun. You do not say 'an obedience' or 'obediences'.
The adjective is 'obedient' (e.g., an obedient student). The adverb is 'obediently' (e.g., he waited obediently).
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