persecution

American  

[pur-si-kyoo-shuhn] / ˌpɜr sɪˈkyu ʃən /

noun

1. the act of persecuting.

2. the state of being persecuted.

3. a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate people based on their membership in a religious, ethnic, social, or racial group.

   the persecutions of Christians by the Romans.

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persecution British  

/ ˌpɜːsɪˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act of persecuting or the state of being persecuted

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Usage

What does persecution mean? Persecution is the act of harassing or oppressing a person or a group of people, especially because of their identity. Throughout history, people have faced persecution because of their religion, race, ethnicity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and many other factors. Example: People have been using the forum to call attention to the ongoing persecution of Muslims.

Other Word Forms

• nonpersecution
  noun
• persecutional
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of persecution

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English persecucio(u)n, from Late Latin persecūtiōn-, stem of persecūtiō (in Latin: “prosecution”), from Latin persecūt(us) “followed thoroughly, prosecuted” (past participle of persequī “to follow thoroughly, prosecute”; see persecute) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Persecution is unfair or abusive treatment toward a person or group of people, such as the persecution of someone who is different by calling him or her rude names and making threats. The noun persecution is related to persecute, which comes from Latin persecut-, meaning “followed with hostility.” Persecution means hassling or singling out a person or group because of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or social status. In many schools, the persecution of students by bullies has resulted in a zero-tolerance policy for such despicable behavior.

Example Sentences

Persecution of Christians is rising in sub-Saharan Africa, threatening a “vast humanitarian catastrophe” for the continent, a support group for victimized Christians said Tuesday.

From Washington Times • Jan. 17, 2023

Persecution of the Rohingya has been widely documented, including in a U.N. probe, she noted.

From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2022

Persecution was also explored in popular culture by the duo who created Captain America and Hulk, in their later series X-Men, launched in 1963.

From The Guardian • Jan. 30, 2020

Persecution from the church threatened the witches’ relationship to the moon, Trainor explained, so they started looking at covert ways of keeping the lunar connection alive.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 12, 2019

Persecution only gave zest to the work, both in the Philippines and in the Ladrones, of which we may speak together in this connection, as they have a common history.

From The Friars in the Philippines by Coleman, Ambrose

Related Words

• expulsion
• ill-treatment
• imprisonment
• killing
• maltreatment
• massacre
• mistreatment
• murder
• oppression
• torture