solicitation

noun

so·​lic·​i·​ta·​tion sə-ˌli-sə-ˈtā-shən 

plural solicitations

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

Synonyms of solicitation

• plea
• appeal
• prayer
• petition

Examples of solicitation in a Sentence

the mail is always full of solicitations from worthy causes

Recent Examples on the Web

He was convicted eight years earlier of solicitation of prostitution involving a minor. —Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026

Acting as a pimp or engaging in certain forms of solicitation would remain criminal offenses. —The Denver Post, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026

In 2015, documents were released relating to Epstein’s 2008 criminal case where Epstein pled guilty to the charges of solicitation of prostitution and procurement of a minor for prostitution. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Feb. 2026

He was sentenced to 18 months in custody after pleading guilty to solicitation of prostitution and hiring minors to engage in prostitution. —Chris Quintana, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for solicitation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Legal Definition

solicitation

noun

so·​lic·​i·​ta·​tion sə-ˌli-sə-ˈtā-shən 

: 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)