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

Monarchs depend on everyday people—farmers, gardeners and city planners—planting milkweed and protecting pollinator spaces, so their recovery depends on cooperation, not coercion.

From The Wall Street Journal

This idealized view is also far more sympathetic than modern perceptions of other medieval events, including the Crusades, which are now linked with coercion and brutality.

From Science Daily

Bajolet, now 76, confirmed he had authorised the operation but said that he had not given any order to subordinates "to use any kind of coercion".

From Barron's

She had initially gone missing while travelling in Thailand and her lawyer said Georgian police had launched a separate criminal investigation into her coercion allegations.

From BBC

Catholic perspectives add nuance: conversion is understood as a lifelong process, with debates around evangelism emphasizing persuasion over coercion and relationship-building over public pressure.

From Salon

Related Words

• duress
• intimidation
• persuasion