coalition

American  

[koh-uh-lish-uhn] / ˌkoʊ əˈlɪʃ ən /

noun

• coalitions
  plural

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.

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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

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coalition Cultural  

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

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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

Derived Forms

• coalitioner
  noun
• coalitionist
  noun
• coalitional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• coalitions
  plural

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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; see coalesce

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Explanation

A coalition is a group of people who join together for a common cause, like a coalition you form with other skateboarders who want to convince your town to build a skate park. The noun coalition comes from the Latin word coalitiō, meaning "to grow together." Often, the people and groups that form coalitions have different backgrounds but come together because they share a goal. For example, parents, teachers, business owners, and city council members might form a coalition to build a teen center, just as nations that do not agree on all issues might form a coalition because they all want peace.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coalition coalitions

The slowdown, however, is not enough to keep the world from missing a pledge to end deforestation by 2030, according to the report, which was drafted by a coalition of research groups and non-governmental organisations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

The formation of the new coalition comes at an uncertain time in a country that has been wracked by violence for decades.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila has been named the leader of a new rebel coalition seeking to oust the government.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

The Saudi-led military coalition said it had shot down two ballistic missiles Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

A coalition of Indian tribes had taken Washington State to court over a treaty it had signed with them in 1854, when the state was still part of the Oregon Territory.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Flavio Bolsonaro has focused on building coalitions and doubled down on his plans to shrink the state and modernize the tax system.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

The Rev. Patricia Coleman-Burns, a University of Michigan professor emerita who grew up in Detroit and has watched the region’s racial and political coalitions shift for more than 70 years, was a die-hard Stevens supporter.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

The Federal Trade Commission has recently flagged advertiser coalitions for colluding to set “brand safety” standards.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

This perspective suggests that the legislative process and bipartisan coalitions still function as a significant safeguard for children’s nutrition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

Civil rights groups have also developed litigation and important coalitions related to the school-to-prison pipeline, inadequate indigent defense, and juvenile justice reform, to name a few.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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