coercion

American  

[koh-ur-shuhn] / koʊˈɜr ʃən /

noun

coercions plural

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.

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coercion British  

/ kəʊˈɜːsɪv, kəʊˈɜːʃən /

noun

1. the act or power of coercing

2. government by force

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• coercions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of coercion

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”; see coerce) + -iō -ion; replacing late Middle English cohercion, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Explanation

Coercion is making something happen by force, like when bullies use coercion to make kids give them their lunch money. Coercion can be a threat, "The shady lawyer uses coercion when he threatens to get the waiter fired if he doesn't rat out his boss," or it can be actual brute force, as when the gangster breaks the messenger's leg to keep her from talking to the police. The police might use coercion, too, to get a confession. The prefix co- is derived from the Latin word for "together." So you can't use coercion on yourself; you need someone else to force into doing something.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coercion coercions

Are you entering into this of your own free will — without any coercion?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Those prosecutions depended on the successful exercise of significant military force and the coercion of involved governments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

They said they view the situation as an example of captive market exploitation and economic coercion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

For limited government to remain, accountability, transparency, and protection of individual rights from coercion must be secured for the people.

From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026

In my own house, I attempted to use a different sort of coercion, but without success.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Who knows what coercions they deployed back in the day to corral those students into submission; at least that’s the fear evinced by today’s new campus dating policies.

From Newsweek ● Mar. 20, 2015

Between the coercions of the sensible order and those of the ideal order, our mind is thus wedged tightly.

From Pragmatism by James, William

Those peaceable coercions which are in the power of every nation, if undertaken in concert and in time of peace, are more likely to produce the desired effect.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson

This is especially true of the "pro-ethical" consciousnesses of external authorities, coercions, and opinions—religious, political, and social—by which the mass of mankind are governed; and is broadly due to variation in social conditions.

From History of Modern Philosophy From Nicolas of Cusa to the Present Time by Falckenberg, Richard

The British Minister, delighted by this spontaneous offer, thanked the King, expressing the hope that his action would be greatly appreciated, that all mistrust would vanish, and that the Powers would moderate their coercions.

From Greece and the Allies 1914-1922 by Abbott, G. F. (George Frederick)

Related Words

• duress
• intimidation
• persuasion