objection

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English objeccioun,^[2][3][4] partly borrowed from Old French objection (“reply, argument in opposition”), recorded in Old French from the late 12th century,^[5][4] and partly from its source Late Latin obiectiō (“a putting in front, opposing, reproach”), recorded from the 3rd century.^[5][4] The Latin noun was formed on obiectus, the past participle of obiciō (“to throw before, oppose”),^[5][2][6] the verb behind object.^[4][7] The Anglo-Norman Dictionary records objeccioun, an objection or dissenting opinion, from c1360–79.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

A reason or argument put forward against another: before 1387, in John Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon, according to Barnhart;^[7] the OED dates its first example from a manuscript of the same translation to c1410.^[5] Etymonline dates the word to the late 14th century, as an argument against the validity of a proposition,^[4] and Merriam-Webster to the 14th century.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Several early senses followed the Latin closely and have died out: a charge or accusation against a person (1440–1513),^[5][9] an attack or assault (c1475–1586),^[5] the act of placing something in the way (c1550–1611) and the presenting of something to the senses or the mind (1554–1649).^[5] Johnson (1755) still listed the act of presenting anything in opposition and a criminal charge, quoting Shakespeare's Henry VIII, beside an adverse argument.^[10] The general sense of protest or disapproval, as in take objection, is recorded from 1543,^[5] and the related adjective objectionable from 1781, in Cowper.^[7] Specialized uses followed in law, for a statement opposing an argument or piece of evidence (1837),^[5] and in horse racing, for an official protest about the running of a race (1898).^[5] The courtroom interjection Objection!, originally American, is recorded from 1932.^[5]

Timeline

• c1360–79 – Anglo-Norman objeccioun.^[8]
• before 1387 – an argument against something.^[7]
• 1440 – a charge or accusation (obsolete by 1513).^[5]
• 1543 – the act of objecting; protest, opposition.^[5]
• 1781 – objectionable.^[7]
• 1837 – (law) a statement of legal opposition.^[5]
• 1898 – (horse racing) an official protest.^[5]
• 1932 – interjection, in court.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. An expression or feeling of disapproval or opposition: The residents raised strong objections to the new road.
2. A reason or argument put forward against something.
3. (law) A formal protest in court against a question, a piece of evidence or a procedure.
4. (horse racing) An official complaint about the running of a race.

Interjection

1. (law) Used by a lawyer in court to protest against a question or piece of evidence.

Word family

• nonobjection
• objectionable
• conscientious objection

Related words

• object
• objective
• subject
• project
• reject

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
3. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
4. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
7. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
8. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
9. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
10. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.