1. willful refusal to appear before a court or comply with a court order; can result in a finding of contempt of court • Derivationally related forms: contumacious • Topics: law, jurisprudence • Hypernyms: disobedience, noncompliance 2. obstinate rebelliousness and insubordination; resistance to authority • Derivationally related forms: contumacious • Hypernyms: insubordination, rebelliousness
