manipulation

American  

[muh-nip-yuh-ley-shuhn] / məˌnɪp yəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of manipulating.

2. the state or fact of being manipulated.

3. skillful or artful management.

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Etymology

Origin of manipulation

First recorded in 1720–30; from French, equivalent to manipule “handful” ( see maniple) + -ation -ation

Explanation

Manipulation is the skillful handling, controlling or using of something or someone. Whether it's the sculpture you made in art class or how you convinced your friend to do your homework — both are considered manipulation. From the Latin word for "handful," manipulation certainly has much to do with using your hands to move or shape something, like a good DJ manipulating two totally different tunes into the perfect mashup. But this word also has some negative connotations — a manipulative person knows how to twist words, play on emotions and otherwise manage a situation in a sneaky fashion to get what he wants.

Example Sentences

Wednesday's Pearson Edexcel paper one exam has left students feeling "overwhelmed" and "uncertain" by questions that required "multiple layers of reasoning" and "extended algebraic manipulation".

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, on Monday appeared to equate all short selling with market manipulation, prompting traders to say that prosecutors misunderstood the activity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

“There’s very little evidence of manipulation or of fraud or even of incompetence,” Hasen said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Aeon is equipped with 21 sensors including cameras, radar, a microphone, and force and torque sensors for manipulation.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

“It wasn’t a manipulation, it was the truth.”

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth