persuasion

[per-swey-zhuhn]

noun

1. the act of persuading or seeking to persuade.

2. the power of persuading; persuasive force.

3. the state or fact of being persuaded or convinced.

4. a deep conviction or belief.

5. a form or system of belief, especially religious belief.

   the Quaker persuasion.

6. a sect, group, or faction holding or advocating a particular belief, idea, ideology, etc..

   Several of the people present are of the socialist persuasion.

7. Facetious.,  kind or sort.

persuasion

/ pəˈsweɪʒən /

noun

1. the act of persuading or of trying to persuade

2. the power to persuade

3. the state of being persuaded; strong belief

4. an established creed or belief, esp a religious one

5. a sect, party, or faction

Other Word Forms

• prepersuasion noun
• self-persuasion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of persuasion¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English, from Latin persuāsiōn-, stem of persuāsiō; equivalent to per- + suasion; replacing Middle English persuacioun, from Middle French persuacion, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of persuasion¹

C14: from Latin persuāsiō; see _persuade

Synonym Study

See advice.

Example Sentences

Lang’s spare musical style of friendly persuasion obviously suits his beautiful text.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He keeps the GOP in line not through persuasion and horse-trading but by threats ranging from backing primary challenges to the implicit fear of violence.

Read more on Salon

By means of bribery and persuasion and threats, Madame Babushkinov had finally convinced her to stop acting like a coward and get out of bed.

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She was not accustomed to receiving compliments of this sort, especially from persons of the male persuasion.

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Fifty food vendors span the diverse offerings of L.A.’s food scene, both of the brick and mortar and truck persuasion.

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Related Words

• belief 
• creed 
• denomination