coalition
koh-uh-LISH-un
/ˌkoʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ən/
A temporary alliance of distinct factions, political parties, or organizations for combined action.
Implies separate entities joining together for a specific, often temporary, shared goal.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'coalescere' (to grow together), merging 'co-' (together) and 'alere' (to nourish). It described physical biological growth before entering 18th-century European diplomatic vocabulary.
Word relationships
- alliance: Alliance is broader and can be long-term or military, whereas coalition implies a pragmatically combined bloc.
- division: Division reflects complete separation or conflict between groups.
Commonly confused with
- merger: A merger permanently combines entities into one; a coalition keeps distinct identities intact.
Word family
- coalesce (verb): To come together to form one mass or whole.
Collocations
- coalition building
- coalition government
- form a coalition
- broad coalition
Idioms & expressions
- build bridges
Example sentences
- "The two minor parties formed a coalition government after no single party won a majority." Parliamentary politics
- "A broad coalition of environmentalists and business owners opposed the new highway plan." Community organizing
Memory hook
CO-ALLIANCE: Coming together into ONE temporary alliance. Growing together for a common purpose.
When not to use
Do not use for a permanent, fully merged single company or organization.
Fun facts
- In parliamentary systems, 'coalition talks' after an election can take months to negotiate policy compromises.
Related words
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