solicitation

noun

so·​lic·​i·​ta·​tion sə-ˌli-sə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce solicitation (audio)
plural solicitations
Synonyms of solicitationnext
1
formal : the practice or act or an instance of soliciting
email/telephone solicitations
Unauthorized solicitation is prohibited.
sometimes : an urgent or persistent request : entreaty, importunity
I laid the matter before him, but he was disinclined to attempt the unfamiliar task. The editors, however, renewed their solicitations. Adam Badeau †1895
2
formal : a quality or force that moves or draws : incitement, allurement
… a vigilance against the solicitations of dejection and despair.newyorker.com

Examples of solicitation in a Sentence

the mail is always full of solicitations from worthy causes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He was given federal immunity in return for pleading guilty in state court to two solicitation charges. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026 Within days of these online solicitations, the August 10 incident occurred where the suspect arrived at the victim’s address wearing a mask and gloves, possibly concealing a firearm and inquired about the victim. Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026 An analysis of the files suggests Wolfe spoke with Epstein multiple times between 2009 and 2014, after the financier’s conviction for solicitation of prostitution from a girl below age 18 in June 2008. Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026 Keller, 19, faces charges of criminal solicitation for first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on college grounds. Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for solicitation

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of solicitation was circa 1513

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Cite this Entry

“Solicitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solicitation. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

Legal Definition

solicitation

noun
so·​lic·​i·​ta·​tion sə-ˌli-sə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce solicitation (audio)
: an act or practice or an instance of soliciting
solicitation of a proxy for a shareholder vote
specifically : the crime of soliciting someone to commit a crime (as murder)

More from Merriam-Webster on solicitation

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