persuasion

American  

[per-swey-zhuhn] / pərˈsweɪ ʒən /

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.

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persuasion British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See advice.

Other Word Forms

• prepersuasion noun
• self-persuasion noun

Etymology

Origin of persuasion

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

Explanation

Persuasion is something meant to get you to do or believe something. If you’re not sure you want to go somewhere, your friend might use persuasion to talk you into it. Being of a certain persuasion or belief, means you already have your mind made up, as a person who is of the Democratic persuasion or the Lutheran persuasion. Another meaning for persuasion is the act of influencing someone to do something or to change their mind. For example, good salespeople use persuasion to get people to buy things, just as children use persuasion to get permission to do certain things.

Example Sentences

It reflects a movement that has, to a significant degree, abandoned the project of persuasion in favor of the consolidation of identity.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

Yun Sun, director of the China program of the Washington-based Stimson Center, said China's reticence was out of character and suspected Iran may have strategically tried to emphasize Beijing's power of persuasion.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

It makes compromise difficult and disagreement suspect, shifting the goal from persuasion to affirmation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Huntley and Carr were initially reluctant to talk but, after a bit of persuasion, invited me in.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

Her hair was slicked back in a small bun, and after much persuasion, Ma got her to wear a pair of white stockings to cover her jutting knees.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

Related Words

• belief
• creed
• denomination