usurpation
Americannoun
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an act of usurping; wrongful or illegal encroachment, infringement, or seizure.
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illegal seizure and occupation of a throne.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of usurpation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ūsūrpātiōn-, stem of ūsūrpātiō “a seizing for use,” equivalent to ūsūrpāt(us) “seized for use” (past participle of ūsūrpāre; see usurp) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Usurpation means taking someone's power or property by force. Locking the teacher outside of the classroom and taking charge of math class is a form of usurpation. It may help to remember the word use when thinking of usurpation, which is what happens when you take someone's power or belongings and use them for yourself. When Shakespeare's Macbeth kills King Duncan and replaces him by usurping the throne, that is an act of usurpation. Stealing a person's personal information in order to open up a credit account in his name also counts as usurpation.
Vocabulary lists containing usurpation
The Declaration of Independence
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Grade 11, List 3
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"The Declaration of Independence," Vocabulary from the historical document
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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.
He even borrowed seven lines of her story "Usurpation" for his novella "Westward the Course of Empire."
From New York Times • Sep. 12, 2012
Despotism and Usurpation are fallen, never, I hope, to rise again.
From Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals In Two Volumes, Volume I. by Morse, Samuel F. B. (Samuel Finley Breese)
And on my Knee do humbly offer up This splendid powerful thing, and ease your Fears Of Usurpation and of Tyranny.
From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume II by Summers, Montague
As he was persecuted, during the Usurpation, for persisting in praying publicly for the king, he had thus the singular misfortune of being punished both for his loyalty and his supposed disloyalty.
From The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Binning, Hugh
It is, therefore, merely according to reason that its partisans should uphold the Usurpation in Kansas.
From American Eloquence, Volume 3 Studies In American Political History (1897) by Johnston, Alexander
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.
