Opposition

Opposition is a broad term describing resistance, counteraction, or disagreement to a person, idea, action, or condition. It can refer to physical opposition (forces in conflict), social or political resistance, or the stance of a party or group that challenges the prevailing authority. In everyday language, it often denotes a stance that stands in contrast to another position.

In politics, the Opposition is the group of parties or coalitions that is not part of the government. Its role is to scrutinize government policy, provide alternative proposals, and hold the ruling authorities accountable. In parliamentary systems, opposition parties may form a shadow cabinet and participate in debates, committees, and question periods to challenge government action and present alternative programs to voters.

In law and intellectual property, opposition processes allow third parties to challenge the grant of patents or trademarks. If an opposition succeeds, the relevant registration or patent can be refused, limited, or revoked. These procedures are designed to protect legitimate interests and ensure that approvals meet established criteria, including novelty, non-obviousness, or distinctive character.

In astronomy, opposition is a planetary configuration in which a planet lies approximately opposite the Sun as seen from Earth. This occurs when the Earth lies between the Sun and the planet. It is usually the best time for observing outer planets, which appear brighter and rise at sunset. The frequency of oppositions varies by planet, with outer planets achieving opposition roughly once per year.

In linguistics and rhetoric, opposition refers to a contrast between linguistic elements, such as antonyms or binary oppositions, and to devices that emphasize contrast in argument or discourse.