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Persecution: meaning, definitions and examples

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persecution

 

[ ˌpɜːrsɪˈkjuːʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

religious

The act of persecuting or oppressing with ill-treatment, especially because of race, political or religious beliefs.

Synonyms

discrimination, harassment, oppression

Examples of usage

  • Religious persecution has been a recurring issue throughout history.
  • The persecution of minorities must be addressed by the government.
Context #2 | Noun

legal

The act of harassing or punishing in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically: the infliction of loss or suffering because of adherence to a particular religious creed, race, or political opinion.

Synonyms

maltreatment, tyranny, victimization

Examples of usage

  • The persecution of political dissidents is a violation of human rights.
  • In some countries, persecution based on sexual orientation is still prevalent.

Translations

Translations of the word "persecution" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perseguição

🇮🇳 उत्पीड़न

🇩🇪 Verfolgung

🇮🇩 penganiayaan

🇺🇦 переслідування

🇵🇱 prześladowanie

🇯🇵 迫害 (はくがい)

🇫🇷 persécution

🇪🇸 persecución

🇹🇷 zulüm

🇰🇷 박해 (bak-hae)

🇸🇦 اضطهاد

🇨🇿 pronásledování

🇸🇰 prenasledovanie

🇨🇳 迫害 (pòhài)

🇸🇮 preganjanje

🇮🇸 ofsóknir

🇰🇿 қудалау

🇬🇪 დევნა

🇦🇿 təqib

🇲🇽 persecución

Etymology

The word 'persecution' originated from the Latin word 'persecutio', which means 'pursuit' or 'chase'. The concept of persecution has been prevalent throughout history, with instances of religious, political, and racial persecution documented in various civilizations. Persecution often involves the systematic mistreatment of individuals or groups based on their beliefs, identity, or opinions. Over time, efforts have been made to combat persecution through legal and social reforms, aiming to promote equality and protect human rights.

See also: persecute, persecuted, persecutor.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,232 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.