| Library / English Dictionary |
EXTORTION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
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)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Unjust exaction (as by the misuse of authority)
Example:
the extortion by dishonest officials of fees for performing their sworn duty
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
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:
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)
