coalition

American  

[koh-uh-lish-uhn] / ˌkoʊ əˈlɪʃ ən /

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 British  

/ 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 Cultural  

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

---

Discover More

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

Etymology

Origin of coalition

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

Example Sentences

But the outgoing government she heads, a coalition of three parties across the country’s political center, has been losing momentum.

From The Wall Street Journal

The coalition will support transparency, collaboration, sovereignty and broader access to intelligence, “ensuring the future of AI is shaped with the world and built for the world,” Huang said.

From The Wall Street Journal

A coalition of more than 30 states that had joined the original lawsuit filed in 2024 is refusing to accept the $200-million settlement, causing the trial to resume this week in Manhattan’s Federal Court.

From Los Angeles Times

President Emmanuel Macron last week said he was trying to put together a coalition to escort vessels and guarantee freedom of navigation.

From BBC

Before the invasion of Iraq in 2003, then-president George W. Bush spent months building up what he called a "coalition of the willing" of more than 40 countries to back the United States.

From Barron's