persecution
Americannoun
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persecutions
plural
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the act of persecuting.
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the state of being persecuted.
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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.
noun
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing persecution
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Vocabulary from "Stop Expecting Games to Build Empathy" by Julie Muncy
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"Bonne Annee," Vocabulary from the personal essay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Protection is only granted if there is an actual, well-founded fear of persecution," Germany's migration and asylum agency, BAMF, told the BBC.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Malaysia has historically offered safe haven to those exiled from Myanmar by persecution or conflict.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Melancholic and unyielding, James’ Booker Prize longlisted new novel, ‘The Disappearers,’ captures a community fighting to exist despite relentless persecution.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
“We are terrified daily of persecution and still show up sometimes better than everyone around us. Did you know that?”
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
Europe’s fragmentation did, and China’s unity didn’t, foster the advance of technology, science, and capitalism by fostering competition between states and providing innovators with alternative sources of support and havens from persecution.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
“I think of Germany, Hitler and the persecutions there, I thought that was just history,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2025
“Have the merciless persecutions and unutterable tortures of the dark ages not yet opened their eyes and enlarged their heart for the alleviation of their fellow men’s woes?”
From Slate ● Apr. 10, 2025
What may help reduce the persecutions, as in South Africa, is providing pensions to the elderly, which appears to confer social protection.
From Scientific American ● May 31, 2023
During this time, Rome undertook a series of official persecutions meant to restore the primacy of ancient pagan religious worship and practice throughout the empire.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
