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.

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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

• 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

In Brussels, the regional parliament currently has 89 elected members from 14 parties, and forging a coalition is even more complex because you need majorities among both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking groups.

From Barron's

Treasury would backstop the peso if voters gave the coalition the support the Argentinian president needs to govern over the next two years.

From The Wall Street Journal

But he has held together a fractious coalition throughout the war with Hamas and has remained steady in the polls after a deep drop following the Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From Barron's

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

From BBC