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Definition of "reluctance" []

  • The state of being reluctant; unwillingness. (noun)
  • Physics A measure of the opposition to magnetic flux, analogous to electric resistance. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "reluctance" in a sentence
  • "A year ago Levin was critical of what he called the reluctance of the Obama administration to take on Wall Street, saying: "Some of the people around the president needed to be given a push.""
  • "Gail, 44, sounds as frustrated with Paul's failure to build his business as she is with what she describes as his reluctance to run the house."
  • "The main reason for this reluctance is the threat of litigation for defamation."