English Dictionary

EXTORTION

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does extortion mean? 

EXTORTION (noun)
  The noun EXTORTION has 3 senses:

1. an exorbitant chargeplay

2. unjust exaction (as by the misuse of authority)play

3. the felonious act of extorting money (as by threats of violence)play

  Familiarity information: EXTORTION used as a noun is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


EXTORTION (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

An exorbitant charge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("extortion" is a kind of...):

overcharge (a price that is too high)

Derivation:

extort (obtain by coercion or intimidation)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Unjust exaction (as by the misuse of authority)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the extortion by dishonest officials of fees for performing their sworn duty

Hypernyms ("extortion" is a kind of...):

exaction (act of demanding or levying by force or authority)

Derivation:

extort (obtain through intimidation)

extortionist (a criminal who extorts money from someone by threatening to expose embarrassing information about them)


Sense 3

Meaning:

The felonious act of extorting money (as by threats of violence)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("extortion" is a kind of...):

felony (a serious crime (such as murder or arson))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "extortion"):

blackmail (extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information)

protection; tribute (payment extorted by gangsters on threat of violence)

shakedown (extortion of money (as by blackmail))

Derivation:

extort (obtain by coercion or intimidation)

extortionist (a criminal who extorts money from someone by threatening to expose embarrassing information about them)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"There's no arguing with the barrel of a gun." (English proverb)

"Slowly-slowly, even a file can turn a beam into a needle." (Albanian proverb)

"Dogs bark, but the caravan moves on." (Arabic proverb)

"He who digs a pit for another falls into it himself." (Czech proverb)



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