1. resisting authority: stubbornly resisting the authority of another person or group
2. hard to do or handle: difficult to deal with or operate struggling in front of the mirror with a recalcitrant necktie
noun (pluralre·cal·ci·trants)
Definition:
stubborn opponent: somebody who stubbornly resists authority or control A few recalcitrants refused to submit.
[Mid-19th century. Directly or via French< Latin recalcitrant- present participle of recalcitrare "kick back" (used of horses) < calcitrare "kick (with the heels)" < calc- "heel"]
