extortion
ek-STOR-shuhn
/ɪkˈstɔːrʃən/
The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
Unlike robbery, which involves immediate force, extortion often involves threats of future harm, such as exposing a secret (blackmail) or damaging a business.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'extorquere', meaning to twist out. It vividly describes the act of 'wringing' money out of a reluctant victim.
Word relationships
- blackmail: Extortion specifically involving the threat to reveal damaging information.
- shakedown: An informal term for extortion.
- bribery: Giving money to influence someone (the opposite direction of extortion).
Commonly confused with
- robbery: Extortion is a threat of future harm; robbery is a threat of immediate harm.
Word family
- extort (verb): To obtain by extortion.
- extortionist (noun): A person who practices extortion.
- extortionate (adjective): (Of a price) much too high; literally 'extorted'.
Collocations
- extortion racket
- victim of extortion
- charged with extortion
Idioms & expressions
- put the squeeze on someone
Example sentences
- "The gang was charged with extortion after demanding 'protection money' from local shopkeepers." News Report
- "The politician was accused of extortion for threatening to block the project unless he received a bribe." Legal Case
Memory hook
Ex-torture: Twisting money out of someone. Obtaining money by threats.
When not to use
Do not use extortion if the property was taken by immediate physical force without a prior threat (that is robbery).
Fun facts
- The word 'extortionate' is now commonly used to describe very high prices, even if no crime is involved.
- In some legal systems, extortion by a public official is called 'color of office' extortion.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.