mutiny

[ myoot-n-ee ]

noun

, plural mu·ti·nies.

1. revolt or rebellion against constituted authority, especially by sailors against their officers.
2. rebellion against any authority.

   Synonyms: takeover, coup, overthrow, uprising

verb (used without object)

, mu·ti·nied, mu·ti·ny·ing.

1. to commit the offense of mutiny; revolt against authority.

mutiny

/ ˈmjuːtɪnɪ /

noun

1. open rebellion against constituted authority, esp by seamen or soldiers against their officers

verb

1. intr to engage in mutiny

Other Words From

• pre·muti·ny noun plural premutinies verb (used with object) premutinied premutinying

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutiny¹

1560–70; obsolete mutine to mutiny (< Middle French mutiner, derivative of mutin mutiny; mutineer ) + -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutiny¹

C16: from obsolete mutine, from Old French mutin rebellious, from meute mutiny, ultimately from Latin movēre to move

Example Sentences

To a sizable portion of members, the decision was an abomination, and it provoked a mutiny.

From Salon

Since then, he’s faced a mutiny on the Chicago school board over whether the district should take out a high-interest loan to cover a new contract with the Chicago Teachers Union, for which Johnson was an organizer.

From Slate

All 76 defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of treason, felony and inciting mutiny.

From BBC

When dozens of officers at the Curragh, the British Army’s principal base in Ireland, announced in March 1914 that they would refuse orders to enforce home rule in Ulster — with the private encouragement of generals in London — Asquith’s Cabinet caved in to their demands and covered up the entire affair, insisting that no mutiny had occurred because no direct orders were disobeyed.

From Salon

Although the mutiny was nearly over when Beato arrived, he photographed its aftermath with a focus on capturing the immediacy of events.

From BBC

Related Words

• disobey