coalition

[koh-uh-lish-uhn]

noun

1. a combination or alliance, especially a temporary one between persons, factions, states, etc.

   Synonyms: league, partnership

2. a union into one body or mass; fusion.

coalition

/ ˌkəʊəˈlɪʃən /

noun

1. 1. an alliance or union between groups, factions, or parties, esp for some temporary and specific reason

   2. ( as modifier )

      a coalition government

2. a fusion or merging into one body or mass

coalition

1. An alliance of political groups formed to oppose a common foe or pursue a common goal.

In countries with many political parties, none of which can get a majority of the citizens' votes, the only way an effective government can be formed is by a coalition of parties. Such coalitions are often unstable.

Other Word Forms

• coalitionist noun
• coalitional adjective
• coalitioner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of coalition¹

1605–15; < Latin coalitiōn- (stem of coalitiō ), equivalent to coalit ( us ), past participle of coalēscere ( co- co- + ali-, past participle stem of alere to nourish + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion; coalesce

Word History and Origins

Origin of coalition¹

C17: from Medieval Latin coalitiō, from Latin coalēscere to _coalesce

Example Sentences

As the candidate for the Union for Change 2025 -- a coalition of minority opposition parties and civil society groups -- he became the leading challenger after Kamto was barred from standing by the Constitutional Council.

Read more on Barron's

However it ends, this impending primary battle highlights raw divisions within the Democratic coalition, more than a year out from the 2026 midterms.

Read more on Salon

The ruling coalition in Belgium's largely French-speaking Walloon region has announced that teachers in the higher tiers of secondary schools will have to work an extra two hours per week.

Read more on BBC

—Asian shares closed lower, with Japan’s Nikkei weighed down by domestic political uncertainty after political party Komeito’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Japan's Nikkei index of stocks dropped over 3 percent Tuesday, days after the ruling coalition collapsed and put in peril Sanae Takaichi's bid to become the country's first woman prime minister.

Read more on Barron's