coercion

American  

[koh-ur-shuhn] / koʊˈɜr ʃən /

noun

1. the act of coercing; use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance.

2. force or the power to use force in gaining compliance, as by a government or police force.

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coercion British  

/ kəʊˈɜːsɪv, kəʊˈɜːʃən /

noun

1. the act or power of coercing

2. government by force

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Other Word Forms

• coercionary adjective
• coercionist noun
• coercive adjective
• coercively adverb
• coerciveness noun
• noncoercion noun
• procoercion adjective

Etymology

Origin of coercion

First recorded in 1515–25; from Medieval Latin coerciōn- stem of coerciō, shortened from coercitiō, from coercit(us) “restrained” (past participle of coercēre “to hold in, restrain”; coerce ) + -iō -ion; replacing late Middle English cohercion, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Carney called on smaller powers to work together to counter economic coercion.

From The Wall Street Journal

J. Edgar Hoover, who led the FBI for 48 years, had established a personal fiefdom devoted to consolidating power and pursuing his own personal obsessions, sometimes with blackmail and coercion.

From Salon

What it does less well is grapple honestly with countries’ use of coercion, deterrence and escalation—the forces that now determine many economic outcomes.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It won't be surprising to me if more small media close because of coercion or because of threats."

From Barron's

Worst-case scenario: Your sister may have put your mother’s home into her own name through fraud, coercion, or false promises, enabling her to sell it and pocket the money.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• duress
• intimidation
• persuasion