annexation

noun

an·​nex·​a·​tion ˌa-ˌnek-ˈsā-shən 

plural annexations

1

: the act of annexing something or the state of being annexed : the addition of an area or region to a country, state, etc.

The Senate rejected the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty, the purchase of the Virgin Islands from Denmark, the annexation of Santo Domingo and the annexation of Samoa.

—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

In the early part of the 20th century, Chinese writers generally dated the annexation of Tibet to the 18th century.

—Elliot Sperling

2

: something that is annexed

… defended their annexations with fire and sword.

—George Bernard Shaw

annexational

ˌa-ˌnek-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

annexationist

ˌa-ˌnek-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Examples of annexation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Statesville Planning Board is scheduled to hear the request at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, at City Hall, 310 S. Center St. The City Council will consider the rezoning at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, and again at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, and the developer’s annexation request on Oct. 6 and Oct. 20. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2025

The final vote on this wave of annexation would likely take place Aug. 19. —Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 9 Aug. 2025

The latest approval Crown secured was a mass grading permit, which is required by its annexation agreement with Sugar Grove, according to Stillwell. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025

Why: The Golan Heights' strategic value—controlling Damascus's water supply and providing surveillance over southern Syria—requires ensuring no unified Syrian military can challenge the 1981 annexation. —Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for annexation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation