extortion

noun

ex·​tor·​tion ik-ˈstȯr-shən 

1

: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property

especially : the offense committed by an official engaging in such practice

2

: something extorted

especially : a gross overcharge

extortioner

ik-ˈstȯr-sh(ə-)nər 

noun

extortionist

ik-ˈstȯr-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Synonyms

• fleecing
• gouging
• highway robbery
• overcharging

Examples of extortion in a Sentence

He was arrested and charged with extortion.

six dollars for a cup of coffee is just plain extortion

Recent Examples on the Web

Ecuadorians were looking for their action man last election, fed up with widespread corruption and the robberies, kidnappings, extortions, and murders fueled by the growing presence of international drug cartels. —Regina Garcia Cano and Gabriela Molina, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Apr. 2024

Medusa, the group suspected of the attack, has previously used extortion and the threat of selling sensitive information on the dark web as a tactic to negotiate, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024

The defendants are charged with extortion, conspiring to commit extortion, gang participation, smuggling drugs into a jail, conspiring to smuggle drugs into a jail and conspiring to commit assault. —Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

The girl’s mother found out about the extortion later that same night in April 2021. —Chris Dehghanpoor, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024

Conditions at home kept worsening, and her husband, a butcher with his own small business, faced extortion even as the local currency was all but worthless. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024

Party girls, karaoke, extortion in Koreatown: Trial exposes dark world. —Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

The extortion offense carries up to 20 years and the cocaine charge up to 10 years. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024

The report was made after Prescott filed a lawsuit Collin County against the accuser and her lawyers for extortion for allegedly asking for $100 million to not report the incident. —Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

extortion

noun

ex·​tor·​tion ik-ˈstȯr-shən 

: the practice or crime of extorting (as money)

extortioner

-sh(ə-)nər 

noun

extortionist

-sh(ə-)nəst 

noun

Legal Definition

extortion

noun

ex·​tor·​tion ik-ˈstȯr-shən 

1

: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property

specifically : the act or practice of extorting by a public official acting under color of office

2

: the crime of extorting

extortionate

-shə-nət 

adjective

extortioner noun

extortionist

-shə-nist 

noun