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

• 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

Two firms responded to the MTA’s initial solicitation in 2019: Bombardier Transit Corporation, and China Rail Rolling Stock Corporation, Mulligan said. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025

Insiders told the New York Times that major donors have been reluctant to give to the DNC this year despite Martin’s solicitation and that party leaders have discussed borrowing money to pay its bills. —Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025

Sperry said toy offerings can serve multiple functions: a social gesture to reinforce bonding, a play solicitation, or even a form of self-regulation during moments of high excitement or stress. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025

She was convicted of murder with the special-circumstance allegations of lying in wait, conspiracy and solicitation of murder, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 7 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1520, 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)