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Noun: contumacy  kón-t(y)û-mu-see
  1. Obstinate rebelliousness and insubordination; resistance to authority
    "The prisoner's contumacy resulted in additional disciplinary measures"
     
  2. (law) wilful refusal to appear before a court or comply with a court order; can result in a finding of contempt of court
    "The defendant's contumacy in ignoring multiple summonses led to a warrant for his arrest"

Derived forms: contumacies

Type of: disobedience, insubordination, noncompliance, rebelliousness

Encyclopedia: Contumacy