coalition

noun

co·​a·​li·​tion ˌkō-ə-ˈli-shən How to pronounce coalition (audio)
1
a
: the act of coalescing : union
the coalition of water vapor into raindrops
b
: a body formed by the coalescing of originally distinct elements : combination
They formed a coalition with downtown merchants.
2
: a temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action
A multiparty coalition ruled the country.
coalitionist noun

Examples of coalition in a Sentence

The groups united to form a coalition. A multiparty coalition ruled the country. The group is working in coalition with other environmental groups.
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.
What To Know Thursday's ruling by Hollander was in response to a case brought against DOGE by a coalition of labor unions and retirees who argued giving the new body access to Social Security data breached privacy and was a security risk. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025 Now Knight oversees a team of 13 mostly remote workers from a small office on Orange Avenue, setting the priorities for the group confronting some of the state’s biggest challenges — and advocating for its findings alongside a coalition of organizations across the state. Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2025 High-net-worth people or their investor coalitions can self-finance the deals at lower prices and also have more flexible holding periods that enable them to take more risks than institutional buyers, says Kyle Kovac, CBRE’s executive vice president of capital markets. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025 Brinkema oversaw a three-week trial last year on claims brought by the DOJ and a coalition of states. Jody Godoy, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coalition

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin coalescere — see coalesce

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of coalition was in 1604

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coalition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coalition. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

coalition

noun
co·​ali·​tion
ˌkō-ə-ˈlish-ən
: a temporary union of persons, parties, or countries for a common purpose

More from Merriam-Webster on coalition

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