CONTUMACY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does contumacy mean? 

• CONTUMACY (noun)
  The noun CONTUMACY has 2 senses:

1. willful refusal to appear before a court or comply with a court order; can result in a finding of contempt of court

2. obstinate rebelliousness and insubordination; resistance to authority

  Familiarity information: CONTUMACY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTUMACY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Willful refusal to appear before a court or comply with a court order; can result in a finding of contempt of court

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("contumacy" is a kind of...):

disobedience; noncompliance (the failure to obey)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

contumacious (wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Obstinate rebelliousness and insubordination; resistance to authority

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("contumacy" is a kind of...):

insubordination; rebelliousness (an insubordinate act)

Derivation:

contumacious (wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient)

 Context examples 

Well, I observed to him that as you were unused to company, I did not think you would like appearing before so gay a party—all strangers; and he replied, in his quick way—'Nonsense! If she objects, tell her it is my particular wish; and if she resists, say I shall come and fetch her in case of contumacy.'

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)