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extortion

ik-STOR-shun /ɪkˈstɔːrʃən/

nounC1SATTOEFLIELTS

LegalFormal

The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.

Unlike robbery, which involves immediate force, extortion often involves a threat of future harm or the release of damaging information.

The story behind the word. The imagery of extortion is quite literal: it is the act of 'twisting' something out of someone, much like wringing water from a cloth. It suggests a painful, forced removal of assets or information.

Word relationships

blackmail: Blackmail is a specific type of extortion involving the threat to reveal secrets.
coercion: Coercion is the use of force to make someone do something; extortion is specifically about getting something from them.

donation: Giving something freely without threat.

Commonly confused with

bribery: Bribery is offering a reward to influence someone; extortion is using a threat to get something.

Word family

extort (verb): To obtain by force or threat.
extortionist (noun): A person who practices extortion.

Collocations

attempted extortion
extortion plot
guilty of extortion
financial extortion

Example sentences

"The politician claimed he was a victim of extortion after a former associate threatened to leak private emails." A news report on a blackmail case.
"The gang's primary source of income was the extortion of local shopkeepers who paid 'protection' money." A historical reference to gang activity.

Memory hook

Think of an 'ex' (former partner) 'torching' your reputation to get money—ex-torch-shun. Extortion is 'twisting' (tort) the truth 'out' (ex) of someone.

When not to use

Do not use for a fair trade or a high price (that's 'price gouging'), though people sometimes use it hyperbolically.

Fun facts

In many jurisdictions, extortion is a felony regardless of whether the threat is actually carried out.
The word 'torture' shares the same root ('torquere').