Oppression
əˈprɛʃən
Definitions
2 meaningsThe unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power; the state of being subjected to such treatment.
əˈprɛʃən
Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
The citizens rose up against the oppression of the tyrannical regime.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone being really unfair and making things difficult for others, like a bully who always gets their way. Oppression is when this happens on a bigger scale, like when a group of people is treated badly by those in power, without any chance to fight back.
👶 For kids: When someone is mean and unfair to people and stops them from doing what they want.
More Examples
The novel vividly portrays the oppression faced by the working class.
She dedicated her life to fighting against social oppression.
How It's Used
"The government's policies led to widespread oppression of minority groups."
"Throughout history, many societies have been marked by various forms of oppression."
"Activism often aims to fight against oppression and promote equality."
The state of being subjected to unjust or cruel exercise of power.
əˈprɛʃən
The state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority.
Many people lived under the oppression of a totalitarian regime.
💡 Simply: It's like being held down and not allowed to be free or treated fairly. Imagine a situation where people aren't treated equally or don't have the same rights.
👶 For kids: Feeling really sad and not having a chance to be happy because people are being mean and unfair.
More Examples
The novel highlighted the characters’ struggle against oppression.
The civil rights movement aimed to end the racial oppression of African Americans.
How It's Used
"The study examined the factors contributing to the oppression of women in patriarchal societies."
"International organizations work to combat oppression and advocate for human rights."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
under the yoke of oppression
Suffering from cruel or unjust control.
"The people lived under the yoke of oppression for many years before they revolted."
From Old French *oppression* or directly from Latin *oppressio*, from *opprimere* ('to press against, overwhelm'). The word has been used in English since the late 14th century.
The term gained significant traction in the context of anti-slavery and civil rights movements, highlighting systemic injustices.
Memory tip
Think of a heavy weight pressing down on you, restricting your freedom and ability to move freely.
Word Origin
"to press against or down"