: an English Roman Catholic of the time from about 1570 to 1791 who refused to attend services of the Church of England and thereby committed a statutory offense
2
: one who refuses to accept or obey established authority
recusantadjective
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe uniform of the conformist — sports shirt, cardigan, tennis shoes — is as easily recognized as that of the recusant — dirty white T, sideburns, two days’ growth of beard. Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 15 July 2019
Word History
Etymology
Latin recusant-, recusans, present participle of recusare to reject, oppose, from re- + causari to give a reason, from causa cause, reason