Meaning & Definition of Extortion in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: The act of demanding payment or property under threat or coercion.

  Example Sentence: The businessman was arrested for extortion after threatening to expose sensitive information.

• Definition: An illegal act where one person gains something by harming or threatening another.

  Example Sentence: She fell victim to extortion when someone threatened to leak her private photos.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English 'extorcioun', from Latin 'extortio', from 'extorquere', meaning 'to twist out'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• extortionate prices: Prices that are excessively high, often unreasonably so.
• to extort a confession: To use threats or coercion to obtain a confession from someone.
• extortion racket: An illegal business that involves extorting money from victims.

Translations

• Spanish: extorsión

• French: extorsion

• German: Erpressung

• Russian: вымогательство

Related Words

• blackmail: The act of threatening to reveal damaging information unless payment is made.

• coercion: The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.

• exaction: The act of demanding and obtaining something, often by force.

Slang Meanings of extortion

• Meaning: milk

  Example Sentence: They are just trying to milk her for cash.

• Meaning: shake down

  Example Sentence: The local thugs are always looking to shake down new businesses.