obstinate in refusal; specifically, in english history, refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in the churc, or to conform to the established rites of the church; as, a recusant lord.-one who is obstinate in refusal; one standing out stubbornly against general practice or opinion.-a person who refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in matters of religion; as, a roman catholic recusant, who acknowledges the supremacy of the pope.-one who refuses communion with the church of england; a nonconformist.