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

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

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

Reuters reports that 82 of 125 ICC member states voted to remove Mr. Khan, who had worked to rally a coalition by turning his personal cause into an anti-imperialist fight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

The coalition had "carried out a decisive and strong response," he added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

The Greater Manchester mayorality, created under the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, came with responsibilities in areas such as transport, planning, skills, and economic development.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Whether that energy can endure, Palshikar argues, will depend on many factors, including state repression, media blackouts, leadership challenges and the difficulty of building a broad social coalition.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

One day, as she and her friends were sitting on the grass, they were invited to join a student coalition from the university, a coalition protesting apartheid in South Africa.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Grassroots coalitions have pushed for limits in California and nationwide as parents have become alarmed over how digital activities are replacing hands-on learning and peer interaction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

Local coalitions of neighbors are springing up in the most rural towns and counties as quiet, nature-filled lands are being replaced with loud, energy intensive data centers.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

Inside organizations, AI is already creating winners and losers, and the ability to navigate that—to build coalitions, manage resistance and help people adapt—will become increasingly valuable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

The Lib Dems, meanwhile, are hoping for a resurgence, having been a junior partner in coalitions in 1999 and 2003.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

When two males are contesting the alpha position, they usually do so by forming extensive coalitions of supporters, both male and female, from within the group.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari