pacification

noun

pac·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌpa-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: the act or process of pacifying : the state of being pacified

b

: the act of forcibly suppressing or eliminating a population considered to be hostile

2

: a treaty of peace

Examples of pacification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One limitation of this modern-day resistance spread across a globalized system is that its wins can feel like pacifications. —WIRED, 22 Oct. 2023

The enlargement of the U.S. military that accompanied the pacification of rebellious southern whites and the defeat of Native American resistance did not recede once those projects were complete. —Zachariah Mampilly, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022

After temporary pacification, what? —Charles Austin Beard, Harper’s Magazine , 22 June 2022

As governor, Sandoval entrusted Nayarit’s pacification to his acting attorney general, Edgar Veytia. —Tim Golden, ProPublica, 8 Dec. 2022

Then my rationalizing self began the coverup, pacification. —Tessa Hadley, The New Yorker, 26 July 2021

As inflation soared, Mr. Khiem invoked economic austerity measures and greater pacification efforts. —BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2021

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a