Added 9 October 2026
reluctance
/ɹɪˈlʌktəns/ noun
Latin root: relū Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about reluctance at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Unwillingness to do something.
Our new dog shows reluctance to go on walks, preferring to be indoors.
- Hesitancy in taking some action.
- Defiance, disobedience.
Origin
From reluct + -ance. From Latin relū̆ctor (“to struggle against, oppose, resist”) + -ance, from re- (“back”) + luctor (“to struggle”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)