usurpation
Americannoun
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an act of usurping; wrongful or illegal encroachment, infringement, or seizure.
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illegal seizure and occupation of a throne.
Other Word Forms
- usurpative adjective
- usurpatory adjective
Etymology
Origin of usurpation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ūsūrpātiōn-, stem of ūsūrpātiō “a seizing for use,” equivalent to ūsūrpāt(us) “seized for use” (past participle of ūsūrpāre; usurp ) + -iō -ion
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.
Domestically, opposition politicians chanted the traditional laments about executive usurpation and congressional war powers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026
Opposition candidate González fled to Spain on Saturday after being accused of "serious crimes" including the "usurpation" of public duties, document falsification, instigation of disobedience and system sabotage.
From BBC • Sep. 12, 2024
“This case centers on Mr. Woodward’s systematic usurpation, manipulation and exploitation of audio of President Trump gathered in connection with a series of interviews conducted by Mr. Woodward,” the lawsuit states.
From Washington Times • Jan. 30, 2023
Even though the practice affected primarily states with Hindu rulers, British usurpation alarmed all members of India’s aristocracy.
From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022
London Great Exhibition opens May ist; a fugitive slave rescued at Boston, Sunday, February 16th, another at Syracuse, N. Y., October ist; usurpation of Louis Napoleon, December 2d, 1851.
From Liberty In The Nineteenth Century by Holland, Frederic May
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.
