re ‧ cal ‧ ci ‧ trant /rɪˈkælsətrənt, rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ BrE AmE adjective formal
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: present participle of recalcitrare 'to refuse to obey' , from Latin calcitrare 'to kick' , from calx 'heel' ]
refusing to do what you are told to do, even after you have been punished SYN unruly :
a recalcitrant pupil
—recalcitrance noun [uncountable]