First Known Use: 1540
Dictionary
mutiny
noun mu·ti·ny \ˈmyü-tə-nē, ˈmyüt-nē\
: a situation in which a group of people (such as sailors or soldiers) refuse to obey orders and try to take control away from the person who commands them
plural mu·ti·nies
Full Definition of MUTINY
2
: forcible or passive resistance to lawful authority; especially : concerted revolt (as of a naval crew) against discipline or a superior officer
— mutiny intransitive verb
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Origin of MUTINY
mutine to rebel, from Middle French (se) mutiner, from mutin mutinous, from meute revolt, from Vulgar Latin *movita, from feminine of movitus, alteration of Latin motus, past participle of movēre to move
Related to MUTINY
- Synonyms
- insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, rebellion, outbreak, revolt, revolution, rising, uprising
Synonym Discussion of MUTINY
rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority. rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful <open rebellion against the officers>. revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government) <a political revolution that toppled the monarchy>. uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion <quickly put down the uprising>. revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds <a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders> <an insurrection of oppressed laborers>. mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority <a mutiny led by the ship's cook>.
MUTINY Defined for Kids
1mutiny
noun mu·ti·ny \ˈmyü-tə-nē\
plural mu·ti·nies
Definition of MUTINY for Kids
1
: a turning of a group (as of sailors) against a person in charge
2
: refusal to obey those in charge
2mutiny
verb
mu·ti·niedmu·ti·ny·ing
Definition of MUTINY for Kids
: to try to take control away from a person in charge <The sailors were preparing to mutiny.>
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