annexation

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

annexationist

2 of 2

noun (2)

an·​nex·​a·​tion·​ist ˌa-ˌnek-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nist 

plural -s

: one who favors annexation

Examples of annexation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

By gradually accomplishing a de-facto annexation of the West Bank, the settlements would require Israeli Jews either to rule over a resentful non-Jewish population of about equal size or to surrender the Jewish identity of their state. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

With his property the subject of the annexation item and Minneola Mayor Pam Serviss forced to recuse herself due to a conflict of interest, only three council members voted on the item and approved it for annexation by 2-1 vote. — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

The United Nations and most of the international community consider the territory occupied Syrian land and do not recognize Israel’s annexation of it. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

And with no serious domestic pressure to adopt more dovish policies, there is little standing in the way of Israel’s annexation of the West Bank and its complete destruction of Gaza. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1844, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for annexation

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