Definition of "refusenik" in English

noun

1. (Soviet Union, historical, slang) One of the citizens of the former Soviet Union who was refused permission to emigrate (typically but not exclusively a Jewish citizen denied permission to emigrate to Israel).

2. (by extension, informal) A person who refuses to do something, usually as a protest; for example, one who refuses conscription or vaccination.

   • Near-synonyms: recusant, decliner, dissenter, objector, protester, defier, maverick, nonconformist, rebel, renegade