/ ˈdɪsɪdənt; NAmE / noun
a person who strongly disagrees with and criticizes their government, especially in a country where this kind of action is dangerous
► dis·si·dence / ˈdɪsɪdəns; NAmE / noun [ U ]
► dis·si·dent adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense differing in opinion or character ): from Latin dissident- sitting apart, disagreeing, from dis- apart + sedere sit.