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coalition

koh-uh-LISH-uhn /ˌkoʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ən/

nounC1GREGMATUPSC

politicalprofessional

A temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action.

Coalitions are typically pragmatic and temporary, often formed by groups that otherwise disagree, united only to solve a specific problem or gain power.

The story behind the word. Coalition comes from the Medieval Latin 'coalitio', meaning 'a growing together'. It shares its roots with 'coalesce', originally describing physical healing or the merging of broken bones before shifting to political alliances in the 17th century.

Word relationships

alliance: An alliance is generally more permanent and strategic, whereas a coalition is temporary and tactical.
bloc: A bloc is a group of countries or parties with a common interest who vote together, often as part of a coalition.

opposition: The opposition is the group actively fighting against the governing coalition.
faction: A faction is a small, dissenting group within a larger organization, causing division rather than unity.

Commonly confused with

collision: A collision is a violent crash between moving objects, while a coalition is a peaceful joining of forces.

Word family

coalitionist (noun): A person who advocates for or belongs to a coalition.

Collocations

form a coalition
governing coalition
coalition government
broad coalition

Example sentences

"Since no single political party won a majority, several minor parties formed a governing coalition." Parliamentary politics.
"A coalition of environmental groups organized a massive protest outside the capitol building." Environmental activism.

Memory hook

Think of a 'coal' fire. Individual pieces of coal must be gathered into a 'coal-ition' to create a powerful, lasting heat. Coals gathered together.

When not to use

Avoid using coalition for a permanent, single unified body. If two companies merge permanently, they are a single corporation, not a coalition.

Fun facts

In parliamentary democracies, coalition governments are the norm rather than the exception, requiring constant compromise to keep the government from collapsing.