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
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
Asked if his demands constituted extortion, Jackson demurred.
—
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Arévalo said Sunday that 83 gang members had been arrested during the state of emergency and that homicides and reports of extortion had fallen during the period compared with the same stretch a year earlier.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
My colleague Quinta Jurecic called it a form of extortion.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
The smear sites have alleged, without substantiation, that targets engaged in — among other activities — extortion, embezzlement, prostitution, drug dealing and human trafficking.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
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Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Arévalo said Sunday that 83 gang members had been arrested during the state of emergency and that homicides and reports of extortion had fallen during the period compared with the same stretch a year earlier.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
My colleague Quinta Jurecic called it a form of extortion.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
The smear sites have alleged, without substantiation, that targets engaged in — among other activities — extortion, embezzlement, prostitution, drug dealing and human trafficking.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extortion
Cite this Entry
“Extortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extortion. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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