What does "coalition" mean?
A temporary group or union of organizations, usually formed for a particular advantage.
Coalition
/kəʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ən/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A temporary group or union of organizations, usually formed for a particular advantage.
- Grammar: coalition is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: alliance, academic federation, addition, affiliation.
- Useful contrasts: competition, conflict, discord.
- Usage evidence: According to the news report, the ruling coalition has secured 72 seats as of 5 p.m.
How to use "coalition"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "coalition" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "coalition" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "coalition" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "coalition" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "coalition" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "alliance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "coalition", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A temporary group or union of organizations, usually formed for a particular advantage. countable, uncountable
"The Liberal Democrats and Conservative parties formed a coalition government in 2010."
- 2 the union of diverse things into one body or form or group; the growing together of parts wordnet
- 3 The collective noun for a group of cheetahs. countable, rare, uncountable
"Sometimes the ante is upped, the gaggle of bowlers all working on their batsman in turn, like a coalition of cheetahs singling out a vulnerable gazelle, sending their distinctive balls down until the pressure forces a mistake or the batsman gets his own back by smashing a bad ball over everyone’s heads."
- 4 an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty wordnet
- 5 the state of being combined into one body wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 Ellipsis of Coalition of the Liberal Party and National Party, the Liberal-National coalition. Australia, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 2 The Coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party, emphasising its pro-coal policies. Australia, derogatory, mildly, slang
"2017 Giles Parkinson, Big utilities about to pay price of saying no to coal and COALition Renew Economy, 11 September 2017. Accessed 3 June 2019."
- 3 Ellipsis of Coalition of the Willing (“the coalition of nations operating under United States command against Iraq, in the U.S.-Iraq War (Gulf War II; "Iraq War") and its aftermath”). US, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 4 Any of several series of nations allied against France in the Napoleonic Wars; in the War of the First Coalition, War of the Second Coalition, etc.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"According to the news report, the ruling coalition has secured 72 seats as of 5 p.m."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "coalition"?
Common synonyms include: alliance, academic federation, addition, affiliation, agglomeration, aggregation.
How do you use "coalition" in a sentence?
According to the news report, the ruling coalition has secured 72 seats as of 5 p.m.
How do you pronounce "coalition"?
Pronounced /kəʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ən/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French coalition, from Medieval Latin coalitiō, coalitiōnem, from Latin coalitus.