coalition

American  

[koh-uh-lish-uhn] / ˌkoʊ əˈlɪʃ ən /

noun

coalitions plural

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.

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coalition British  

/ 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

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coalition Cultural  

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

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Discover More

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

Derived Forms

• coalitioner
  noun
• coalitionist
  noun
• coalitional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• coalitions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of coalition

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; see coalesce

Explanation

A coalition is a group of people who join together for a common cause, like a coalition you form with other skateboarders who want to convince your town to build a skate park. The noun coalition comes from the Latin word coalitiō, meaning "to grow together." Often, the people and groups that form coalitions have different backgrounds but come together because they share a goal. For example, parents, teachers, business owners, and city council members might form a coalition to build a teen center, just as nations that do not agree on all issues might form a coalition because they all want peace.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coalition coalitions

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, led by David Cameron, accepted Dilnot's recommendations.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Since then, Riyadh has backed Yemen’s internationally recognized government and led the coalition of Arab militaries that supported its fight against the militants.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Gen. Rob Bonta and his coalition of 11 other state attorneys general.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Her ambition is now to help create a broad ballistic missile defence coalition -- "something that does not yet exist in the world" -- in which Fire Point hopes to play a central role.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

As a result, the Democratic New Deal coalition evolved into an alliance of urban ethnic groups and the white South that dominated electoral politics from 1932 to the early 1960s.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

This year the chief justice prevailed with different coalitions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

Similar business-backed coalitions are financing cultural-preservation programs, such as Carlos Molina’s Salsa Museum in the Workers Barrio.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

Local coalitions of neighbors are springing up in the most rural towns and counties as quiet, nature-filled lands are being replaced with loud, energy intensive data centers.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

Welfare politics increasingly shifted from class mobilisation to direct cash transfers and identity-based coalitions.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

Even King, the black leader most committed to the traditional path of multiracial coalitions and nonviolence, would soon grow frustrated with the movement’s stagnation.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson