persecution

American  

[pur-si-kyoo-shuhn] / ˌpɜr sɪˈkyu ʃən /

noun

1. the act of persecuting.

2. the state of being persecuted.

3. a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate people based on their membership in a religious, ethnic, social, or racial group.

   the persecutions of Christians by the Romans.

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persecution British  

/ ˌpɜːsɪˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act of persecuting or the state of being persecuted

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Usage

What does persecution mean? Persecution is the act of harassing or oppressing a person or a group of people, especially because of their identity.Throughout history, people have faced persecution because of their religion, race, ethnicity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and many other factors.Example: People have been using the forum to call attention to the ongoing persecution of Muslims.

Other Word Forms

• nonpersecution noun
• persecutional adjective

Etymology

Origin of persecution

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English persecucio(u)n, from Late Latin persecūtiōn-, stem of persecūtiō (in Latin: “prosecution”), from Latin persecūt(us) “followed thoroughly, prosecuted” (past participle of persequī “to follow thoroughly, prosecute”; persecute ) + -iō -ion

Related Words

• expulsion
• ill-treatment
• imprisonment
• killing
• maltreatment
• massacre
• mistreatment
• murder
• oppression
• torture