Other forms: oppositions
The opposition is the parties in a parliament that are not in government. The Leader of the Opposition, opposition parties, oppose the bill.
In Britain the largest one is Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, an official role with a salary and a duty to scrutinise. Elsewhere, opposition means resistance generally: meet with opposition, strong opposition to the plan. In sport, the opposition is the other team. Note oppose; oppositional; and in astronomy, opposition is when a planet is opposite the sun from Earth and therefore brightest.
1nounoppositionThe parties in a parliament that are not in government.
“The opposition voted against the government's new budget.”
2nounresistanceResistance to something.
“The plan to close the hospital met strong opposition from local people.”
opposition is a resisting group or force.
Latin oppositio comes from opponere — ob-, against, plus ponere, to place. Everything in the family is a placing against: opponent, opposite and oppose.
Latin
oppositiō
Old French
oposicion
Middle English
opposicioun
English, today
opposition
From Middle English opposicioun, from Old French oposicion (whence French opposition), from Latin oppositiō, translating Ancient Greek ἀντίθεσις, from the past participle stem of classical Latin oppōnō (“to set against”). Equivalent to oppose + ition.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA