coalition

noun

co·​a·​li·​tion ˌkō-ə-ˈli-shən How to pronounce coalition (audio)
1
a
: the act of coalescing : union
the coalition of water vapor into raindrops
b
: a body formed by the coalescing of originally distinct elements : combination
They formed a coalition with downtown merchants.
2
: a temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action
A multiparty coalition ruled the country.
coalitionist noun

Examples of coalition in a Sentence

The groups united to form a coalition. A multiparty coalition ruled the country. The group is working in coalition with other environmental groups.
Recent Examples on the Web Under current laws, new commissioners are recommended to the Governor by a coalition of hunting and angling groups. Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 14 Mar. 2024 But the principle has been weakened in recent years as more center-right parties have proven willing to build coalitions with more extremist groups. Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 According to a coalition of civil-rights and advocacy organizations that support Palestinian rights, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Palestine Legal, policing such expression is itself discriminatory. Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024 Leading a coalition of over 20 countries, the United States is working to protect crucial shipping lanes by shooting down Houthi drones and missiles and otherwise trying to stop attacks that emanate from Yemen. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 Foster’s apparent win tips the balance of power at City Hall away from the mayor toward a four-member coalition of council members who want to shrink the mayor’s legislative power. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 One week ahead of Arizona’s March 19 presidential preference election, a coalition of Democratic groups in Arizona is mounting an effort to protest President Joe Biden’s handling of Israel’s military campaign into Gaza. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Last week, a coalition of civil rights groups filed new lawsuits on behalf of a dozen inmates at the Dublin prison. Tim Arango, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 With the security of a classic narrative backbone—dead body turns up; detectives sort it out—French’s Murder Squad assembles new coalitions of novel parts: shifting points of view, patterned switches in time, narration that zooms closer in and further out. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coalition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin coalescere — see coalesce

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of coalition was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near coalition

Cite this Entry

“Coalition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coalition. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

coalition

noun
co·​ali·​tion
ˌkō-ə-ˈlish-ən
: a temporary union of persons, parties, or countries for a common purpose

More from Merriam-Webster on coalition

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