provocation
Americannoun
-
the act of provoking.
-
something that incites, instigates, angers, or irritates.
-
Criminal Law. words or conduct leading to killing in hot passion and without deliberation.
noun
-
the act of provoking or inciting
-
something that causes indignation, anger, etc
-
English criminal law words or conduct that incite a person to attack another
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of provocation
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin prōvocātiōn- (stem of prōvocātiō ) a calling forth, equivalent to prōvocāt ( us ) (past participle of prōvocāre to provoke; see -ate 1) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A provocation makes someone angry or sometimes even violent. Telling a professional boxer how ugly he is would be considered a provocation — one that might get you punched in the face. Provocation is the act of provoking someone — doing something just to get a reaction. During election season, opponents sometimes use provocation to try to ruin one another's reputation. However, sometimes it backfires and the one doing the provoking, looking like a bully, loses votes. Some celebrities whose stars are fading use provocation like making scandalous statements to try to keep their names in the headlines.
Vocabulary lists containing provocation
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Call of the Wild
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: September 10 - 16, 2017
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Now it’s a provocation by two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, who say they identify as women and wish to join the league.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Against Uruguay, he knew that Spain had historically lost matches when dragged into provocation and chaos, so he insisted on calmness, discipline, and emotional control.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
And sure, the America-backing crowd delivers fevered chants of “USA! USA!” at any provocation.
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
These things are hilarious because screenwriters Christina Friel and Connor Wright clearly approached the script by trying to make everything legitimately funny, instead of assuming that provocation immediately equates to humor.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
But Nelson as a pupil is apt to turn teacher himself at the least provocation.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
