coercion

American  

[koh-ur-shuhn] / koʊˈɜr ʃən /

noun

• coercions
  plural

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  

/ kəʊˈɜːʃən /

noun

1. the act or power of coercing

2. government by force

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• coercions
  plural

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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”; see coerce) + -iō -ion; replacing late Middle English cohercion, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

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Explanation

Coercion is making something happen by force, like when bullies use coercion to make kids give them their lunch money. Coercion can be a threat, "The shady lawyer uses coercion when he threatens to get the waiter fired if he doesn't rat out his boss," or it can be actual brute force, as when the gangster breaks the messenger's leg to keep her from talking to the police. The police might use coercion, too, to get a confession. The prefix co- is derived from the Latin word for "together." So you can't use coercion on yourself; you need someone else to force into doing something.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coercion coercions

On Friday Araghchi said Iran did not accept "coercion, threats or intimidation" and added that "peace cannot be built through threats of annihilation".

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

But the implication of overt coercion is always bubbling beneath the surface.

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

Economist Guillaume Liby said African countries were "tackling the problem from the wrong end: coercion".

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

Ballistic missiles have become an instrument of geopolitical coercion because of technological change.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The conversation that follows involves more creative coercion than outright job offer, and there are several deviations into the subjects of the ballet, modern fashion, and Japanese mythology.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Who knows what coercions they deployed back in the day to corral those students into submission; at least that’s the fear evinced by today’s new campus dating policies.

From Newsweek ● Mar. 20, 2015

"English liberty" is perfectly consistent, as we all admit, with compulsory registration, vaccination, education, taxation, insurance, inspection, and countless other legal coercions.

From Freedom In Service Six Essays on Matters Concerning Britain's Safety and Good Government by F. J. C. (Fossey John Cobb) Hearnshaw

The British Minister, delighted by this spontaneous offer, thanked the King, expressing the hope that his action would be greatly appreciated, that all mistrust would vanish, and that the Powers would moderate their coercions.

From Greece and the Allies 1914-1922 by G. F. (George Frederick) Abbott

Between the coercions of the sensible order and those of the ideal order, our mind is thus wedged tightly.

From Pragmatism by William James

“Between the coercions of the sensible order and those of the ideal order, our mind is thus wedged tightly”.

From The pragmatic theory of truth as developed by Peirce, James, and Dewey by Delton Loring Geyer

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Related Words

• duress
• intimidation
• persuasion

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