coalitionism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Formal, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “coalitionism” mean?
The principle or practice of forming or promoting a coalition, especially in politics.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The principle or practice of forming or promoting a coalition, especially in politics.
The political strategy or ideology centered on the formation of alliances between distinct groups, parties, or nations to achieve a common objective, often implying compromise and temporary unity over shared goals rather than ideological purity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More frequent in British political discourse due to historical prevalence of coalition governments and multi-party politics. In the US, it's more theoretical, given the two-party dominance.
Connotations
In the UK, it can imply necessary pragmatism or unstable compromise. In the US, it may suggest a departure from major party politics or a novel strategy for third parties.
Frequency
Rare in both, but marginally more common in UK political science and journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “coalitionism” in a Sentence
[Subject] advocates/practices/rejects coalitionism.Coalitionism is central to [possessive] strategy.The move towards coalitionism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coalitionism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The smaller party sought to coalitionise with the Liberals ahead of the vote.
- They are attempting to coalitionise various interest groups.
American English
- The movement aims to coalitionize disparate factions on the left.
- It's difficult to coalitionize groups with such divergent goals.
adverb
British English
- The groups worked coalitionally to draft the policy.
- He argued coalitionally rather than ideologically.
American English
- They decided to act coalitionally to increase their influence.
- The platform was built coalitionally from the ground up.
adjective
British English
- His coalitionist tendencies often put him at odds with party loyalists.
- A coalitionist approach may be the only path to a parliamentary majority.
American English
- The senator's coalitionist strategy garnered support across the aisle.
- They adopted a coalitionist framework for the grassroots campaign.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could describe strategic alliances between companies, but 'partnership model' or 'joint venture strategy' are preferred.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and international relations to analyze political strategies and government formation.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
A precise term in political theory for a specific governing or strategic philosophy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coalitionism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coalitionism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coalitionism”
- Using it to mean a specific coalition (e.g., 'The coalitionism was formed yesterday' - incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'collaborationism' (which implies cooperation with an enemy).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used primarily in formal political discourse and academic writing.
Yes, it can imply unprincipled pragmatism or sacrificing core beliefs for the sake of gaining power, depending on the context.
A 'coalition' is a specific temporary alliance (e.g., a coalition government). 'Coalitionism' is the abstract principle or strategy of forming such alliances.
Not standard, but 'to coalitionise/coalitionize' is occasionally formed, meaning 'to bring into a coalition' or 'to practice coalitionism'.
The principle or practice of forming or promoting a coalition, especially in politics.
Coalitionism is usually formal, academic, political in register.
Coalitionism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ə.nɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ə.nɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COALition formed by adding the suffix -ISM (a belief system). It's the belief in forming coal-itions.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICS IS A MERGER (of companies/factions).
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'coalitionism'?