English
persuasion
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /pəˈsweɪʒ(ə)n/
  • (America) IPA: /pɚˈsweɪʒən/
Noun

persuasion

  1. The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc. [from 14th c.]
    • 2006, Rachel Morris, "Borderline Catastrophe", Washington Monthly, vol. 38:10:
      With the base unleashed, the White House was unable to broker a compromise, either by persuasion or by pressure.
  2. An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone. [from 14th c.]
    • 1928, "The New Pictures", Time, 13 Feb 1928:
      Sadie curses, weeps, then, infected by Mr. Hamilton's writhing persuasions, prays and becomes penitent.
  3. A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief. [from 16th c.]
    It is his persuasion that abortion should never be condoned.
    • 2010, "We don't need gay stereotypes", The Guardian, 6 Feb 2010:
      Social understanding and equality can neither be nurtured through fear, nor intimidation. Surely this goes for people of all sexual persuasions.
  4. One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness. [from 16th c.]
  5. A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology. [from 17th c.]
    • 2009, US Catholic (letter), May 2009:
      As a convert from the Baptist persuasion more than 40 years ago, I still feel like an outsider in the church despite the kindness and acceptance of Catholic friends.
  6. (by extension, often humorous) Another personal, animal or inanimate trait that is not (very) liable to be changed by persuasion, such as sex, gender, ethnicity, origin, profession or nature.
    • 1871 February 14, J.J., "More Solution", Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star, page 105.
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    • 1919, Pere Marquette Magazine, Vol. 11, page 19.
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    • 1967, Taxes. The Tax Magazine, vol. 45, issue 2, page 698.
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    • 1984, The Medical Journal of Australia, page 739.
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    • 2015, Leslie Kelly, No More Bad Girls, in New Year's Resolution: Romance!: Say Yes\No More Bad Girls\Just a Fling, Harlequin, page 125.
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