noun one who refuses communion with the church of england; a nonconformist.
2. recusant ·noun one who is obstinate in refusal; one standing out stubbornly against general practice or opinion.
3. recusant ·noun a person who refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in matters of religion; as, a roman catholic recusant, who acknowledges the supremacy of the pope.
4. recusant ·adj obstinate in refusal; specifically, in english history, refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in the churc, or to conform to the established rites of the church; as, a recusant lord.