oppositions

Opposition is the state of being opposed or resisting. The plural oppositions is used in several fields to describe groups, ideas, or events that stand in contrast to a prevailing position, policy, or object. In everyday use, opposition implies a counterpoint rather than outright rejection of the thing opposed.

In politics, the opposition refers to parties, blocs, or movements that are not part of the government and seek to challenge the ruling authority through scrutiny, debate, and alternative proposals. Its functions include oversight of government actions, criticizing legislation, representing dissenting voters, and presenting policy alternatives for elections. In parliamentary systems, mechanisms such as question periods, debates, and committee work enable opposition influence, though the extent of power varies by constitutional rules and political culture.

In science and astronomy, opposition describes a configuration in which two bodies lie on opposite sides of the sky as seen from a given observer, notably when a planet is opposite the Sun. This arrangement often makes the foreground body easier to observe and is used for data collection and alignment in missions.

In linguistics and logic, opposition denotes contrast between elements, such as phonological contrasts (contrastive sounds) or logical negation of a proposition. The concept helps analyze distinctions and counterpoints in reasoning and language.

In law and public policy, opposition can take the form of formal objections, appeals, or campaigns to block, modify, or challenge decisions. Civil society groups, media, and citizens may participate in opposition through protests, petitions, or legal challenges within the bounds of the law.