noun
obedience
uh-BEE-deerns
noun
1
The act of following instructions, rules, or authority.
"The dog's obedience training paid off at the vet."
"Soldiers are trained to show strict obedience to orders."
How to Use Obedience
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing what you are told, or following rules and authority.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "obeisance" (a gesture of respect, like a bow) — the words are related but mean different things.
Easily confused with
obeisance
Common pairings
blind obedience
obedience training
demand obedience
Word Forms
obediences plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “obedience”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog's _____ training paid off at the vet.
Etymology
From Old French obedience, from Latin oboedientia, related to obedire, "to obey".