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

• cheating
• gouging
• overcharging
• highway robbery
• fleecing

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

Privacy enables: • Personal security: Public wealth visibility can lead to extortion, theft and physical harm. —Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Chief among those figures tangled in what gradually emerges as a kidnapping and extortion scheme are globetrotting businesswoman Yuen Song (Levy Tran), who goes nowhere unflanked by her own two sneering bodyguards (Noah Fleder, Theodore Park). —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025

In the prosecution’s telling, Trippe orchestrated those events, as well as other violence and extortion. —Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 25 July 2025

But investigations move slowly, while Trump's extortion machine operates in real time. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for extortion

• abortion
• apportion
• contortion
• distortion
• proportion
• disproportion
• portion
• torsion

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