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 White House has promised to prevent further annexation of the West Bank, which Zionist officials in Israel believe rightfully belongs to the Jewish people as the Biblical lands of Judea and Samaria. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2025

It was shattered in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and incursions in eastern Ukraine, followed by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago, which sparked the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. —Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 28 Dec. 2025

Those assurances collapsed with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022, which Kyiv and its allies say directly violated the pact. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

The plan also calls for a return of Russia to the Group of Eight, a grouping of powerful countries that kicked Russia out after its 2014 annexation of Crimea. —Justine Redman, CBS News, 21 Nov. 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