coalition

[koh-uh-lish-uhn]

noun

1. a combination or alliance, especially a temporary one between persons, factions, states, etc.

   Synonyms: league, partnership

2. a union into one body or mass; fusion.

coalition

/ ˌkəʊəˈlɪʃən /

noun

1. 1. an alliance or union between groups, factions, or parties, esp for some temporary and specific reason

   2. ( as modifier )

      a coalition government

2. a fusion or merging into one body or mass

coalition

1. An alliance of political groups formed to oppose a common foe or pursue a common goal.

In countries with many political parties, none of which can get a majority of the citizens' votes, the only way an effective government can be formed is by a coalition of parties. Such coalitions are often unstable.

Other Word Forms

• coalitional adjective
• coalitioner noun
• coalitionist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of coalition¹

1605–15; < Latin coalitiōn- (stem of coalitiō ), equivalent to coalit ( us ), past participle of coalēscere ( co- co- + ali-, past participle stem of alere to nourish + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion; coalesce

Word History and Origins

Origin of coalition¹

C17: from Medieval Latin coalitiō, from Latin coalēscere to _coalesce

Example Sentences

Ministers from the other main ultra-Orthodox party, Shas, resigned from the cabinet over the issue, though the party has not formally left the coalition.

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Badenoch said the party currently had coalitions with Labour and the Liberal Democrats and was open to other partnerships to progress its goals.

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"Twenty years of Afghan-US partnership must not be forgotten," the coalition's statement said, nodding to the two-decade effort launched by the US in 2001 to overthrow Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and establish security in the country.

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"This manoeuvre aims to prevent the publication of the electoral results scheduled for tomorrow, November 27," the civil society coalition Popular Front said in a statement on Wednesday.

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When presenting the proposal, Bulgaria's broad coalition government insisted its "priority" was to "ensure the long-term durability of the public finances" in the European Union's poorest country.

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