persecution
Americannoun
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the act of persecuting.
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the state of being persecuted.
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a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate people based on their membership in a religious, ethnic, social, or racial group.
the persecutions of Christians by the Romans.
noun
Usage
What does persecution mean? Persecution is the act of harassing or oppressing a person or a group of people, especially because of their identity. Throughout history, people have faced persecution because of their religion, race, ethnicity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and many other factors. Example: People have been using the forum to call attention to the ongoing persecution of Muslims.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of persecution
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English persecucio(u)n, from Late Latin persecūtiōn-, stem of persecūtiō (in Latin: “prosecution”), from Latin persecūt(us) “followed thoroughly, prosecuted” (past participle of persequī “to follow thoroughly, prosecute”; see persecute) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Persecution is unfair or abusive treatment toward a person or group of people, such as the persecution of someone who is different by calling him or her rude names and making threats. The noun persecution is related to persecute, which comes from Latin persecut-, meaning “followed with hostility.” Persecution means hassling or singling out a person or group because of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or social status. In many schools, the persecution of students by bullies has resulted in a zero-tolerance policy for such despicable behavior.
Vocabulary lists containing persecution
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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"Bonne Annee," Vocabulary from the personal essay
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Vocabulary from "Stop Expecting Games to Build Empathy" by Julie Muncy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Goldrich will open with a museum exhibition titled “Meet Your Neighbor,” amplifying diverse L.A. communities and featuring stories of Angelenos and their ancestors who resettled, immigrated or sought refuge from persecution and violence.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
Across eight generations, the Rothschild dynasty has survived wars, financial crises and persecution.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
Women and girls "suffered particular moral and material harm as a result of the crime of persecution", which had to be reflected in the implementation of reparations, it went on.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
There were three routes to asylum for someone in his situation: as someone who faced persecution for their sexual orientation, their religious beliefs or their political views.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
In 1943, members of the Dutch Resistance bombed the Amsterdam civil registry office in an attempt to destroy records, to prevent the Nazis from identifying Jews and others marked for persecution, arrest or forced labour.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
