noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˌpɹɒtɪsˈteɪʃən/
/ˌpɹəʊtɪsˈteɪʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:P R OW2 T EH2 S T EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A formal solemn objection or other declaration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
October 28, 1552, Hugh Latimer, Sermon on the Gospel for St Simon and St Jude's Day The protestation of our faith.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A declaration in common-law pleading, by which the party interposes an oblique allegation or denial of some fact, protesting that it does or does not exist, and at the same time avoiding a direct affirmation or denial.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, historical, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a strong declaration of protest
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: declaration
4
noun
Meaning 4
a formal and solemn declaration of objection
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they finished the game under protest to the league president
the senator rose to register his protest
the many protestations did not stay the execution
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: protest
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: objection
History
Etymology
From Old French protestacion, from Latin prōtestātiō.