extortion

American  

[ik-stawr-shuhn] / ɪkˈstɔr ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of extorting.

   Synonyms:

   blackmail

2. Law. the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.

3. oppressive or illegal exaction, as of excessive price or interest.

   the extortions of usurers.

4. anything extorted.

   Synonyms:

   blackmail

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extortion British  

/ ɪkˈstɔːʃən /

noun

1. the act of securing money, favours, etc by intimidation or violence; blackmail

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Usage

What does extortion mean? Extortion is the act of extorting—using violence, threats, intimidation, or pressure from one’s authority to force someone to hand over money (or something else of value) or do something they don’t want to do. The verb extort is commonly used in this literal way, but it can also be used in a more general or figurative way meaning to overcharge for something or to obtain through relentless and unreasonable demands. These senses liken such actions to the actual crime of extortion, as in The way they raise tuition every semester is extortion, if you ask me. A person who engages in extortion can be called an extortionist or an extortioner. Such actions can be described as extortionary. Example: The mob regularly uses extortion to squeeze money out of small business owners through intimidation.

Other Word Forms

• extortioner
  noun
• nonextortion
  noun

Etymology

Origin of extortion

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English extorcion, from Late Latin extortiōn-, stem of extortiō, literally, “a twisting away,” from extort(us) + -iō noun suffix; see extort, -ion

Explanation

Extortion means forcing someone into giving you something through threats. A bully who tells kids he'll beat them up if they don't give him their lunch money is guilty of extortion. Because extortion is a crime — mobsters are often charged with it — the word has a strict, legal meaning. It's the act of using threats or force to obtain something from someone. But the word is used in a general context as well. As you sell $5 boxes of M&Ms door-to-door to pay for your band trip to Florida, cranky neighbors may complain, "At this price, it's extortion!" — meaning they feel you're forcing them to give you their money.

Example Sentences

Extortion has emerged as a key theme in the current campaign to elect a successor to Petro in elections starting May 31.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

In April, the Department of Justice created the Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force in a move to prioritize the “disruption, investigation, and prosecution of ransomware and digital extortion activity.”

From The Verge • Dec. 9, 2021

"Private consensual adult conduct is not the law's business. Extortion and defamation are the business of the law."

From Reuters • Oct. 29, 2021

There’s also up to $50,000 in coverage listed explicitly for “Cyber Extortion Expenses and Monies.”

From Slate • Oct. 20, 2021

“Because,” said the Man Leaning on a Spade, “I belong to the Gravediggers’ National Extortion Society, and we have decided to limit the production of graves and get more money for the reduced output. 

From Fantastic Fables by Bierce, Ambrose

Related Words

• coercion
• fraud
• shakedown
• theft