extortion

American  

[ik-stawr-shuhn] / ɪkˈstɔr ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of extorting.

   Synonyms:

   blackmail

2. Law. the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.

3. oppressive or illegal exaction, as of excessive price or interest.

   the extortions of usurers.

4. anything extorted.

   Synonyms:

   blackmail

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extortion British  

/ ɪkˈstɔːʃən /

noun

1. the act of securing money, favours, etc by intimidation or violence; blackmail

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Usage

What does extortion mean? Extortion is the act of extorting—using violence, threats, intimidation, or pressure from one’s authority to force someone to hand over money (or something else of value) or do something they don’t want to do. The verb extort is commonly used in this literal way, but it can also be used in a more general or figurative way meaning to overcharge for something or to obtain through relentless and unreasonable demands. These senses liken such actions to the actual crime of extortion, as in The way they raise tuition every semester is extortion, if you ask me. A person who engages in extortion can be called an extortionist or an extortioner. Such actions can be described as extortionary. Example: The mob regularly uses extortion to squeeze money out of small business owners through intimidation.

Other Word Forms

• extortioner noun
• nonextortion noun

Etymology

Origin of extortion

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English extorcion, from Late Latin extortiōn-, stem of extortiō, literally, “a twisting away,” from extort(us) + -iō noun suffix; extort, -ion

Explanation

Extortion means forcing someone into giving you something through threats. A bully who tells kids he'll beat them up if they don't give him their lunch money is guilty of extortion. Because extortion is a crime — mobsters are often charged with it — the word has a strict, legal meaning. It's the act of using threats or force to obtain something from someone. But the word is used in a general context as well. As you sell $5 boxes of M&Ms door-to-door to pay for your band trip to Florida, cranky neighbors may complain, "At this price, it's extortion!" — meaning they feel you're forcing them to give you their money.

Example Sentences

The case has unfolded alongside a parallel legal offensive from Baldoni, who filed a sweeping $400-million countersuit accusing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, the New York Times and others of defamation and extortion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

More than eight million Venezuelans fled over the last 12 years, including many criminals whose profits from robberies, kidnappings and extortion had dried up, security analysts said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Shell filed a counterclaim accusing Cipriani of extortion and defamation, while Paramount called the allegations “frivolous.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Kast has promised to moved fast to tamp down a surge in murders, kidnappings and extortion widely blamed on gangs from Venezuela and other Latin American countries.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The charge of extortion and gouging the sick for more money was particularly painful to the two leaders.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy

Related Words

• coercion
• fraud
• shakedown
• theft