coercion

[koh-ur-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of coercing; use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance.

2. force or the power to use force in gaining compliance, as by a government or police force.

coercion

/ kəʊˈɜːsɪv, kəʊˈɜːʃən /

noun

1. the act or power of coercing

2. government by force

Other Word Forms

• coercionary adjective
• coercionist noun
• noncoercion noun
• procoercion adjective
• coercively adverb
• coerciveness noun
• coercive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coercion¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Medieval Latin coerciōn- stem of coerciō, shortened from coercitiō, from coercit(us) “restrained” (past participle of coercēre “to hold in, restrain”; coerce ) + -iō -ion; replacing late Middle English cohercion, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

"There was no coercion. It was more just me figuring out in that space, do I want to take this? I had every opportunity to say: 'Yay', 'nay', or 'yeah, I'll take it,'" he says.

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Lai said Taiwan was determined to "maintain peace through strength" and called on China to "renounce the use of force or coercion to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait".

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Few likely blinked when a federal judge cited coercion and abuse as aggravating factors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sentencing to 50 months in prison.

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Legally speaking, you can contest a will or trust due to lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence from a family member, fraud, coercion, improper execution or if there was a newer will in existence.

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According to the police officer who questioned Mas'ud, the facility was "well run", the prisoners were not restrained and there were no signs of torture or coercion.

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Related Words

• duress 
• intimidation 
• persuasion