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.
In an unexpected twist, on March 5, 2014, police arrested DaLuise at her home and charged her with solicitation to murder Suarez. Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026 Epstein’s most serious crimes were not public at the time when Musk was in communication with him, but he had been convicted in 2008 on state charges of solicitation of prostitution and of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 31 Jan. 2026 Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Glenn Kurlander, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026 Other sections of the bill impose new criminal penalties on contractors who fail to pay subcontractors, tighten restrictions on door-to-door commercial solicitation, repeal Florida’s participation in a regional energy compact and eliminate the state’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative. Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 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 7 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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