coemption: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Rare / Archaic
UK/kəʊˈɛmpʃ(ə)n/US/koʊˈɛmpʃən/

Formal, Historical, Legal, Economic

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Quick answer

What does “coemption” mean?

The act of buying up the whole supply of a commodity.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The act of buying up the whole supply of a commodity; a cornering of the market.

In historical or legal contexts, can refer to the compulsory purchase of provisions for public use, or a Roman law contract of sale. More broadly, any comprehensive purchase designed to control supply.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant regional difference in meaning or usage, as the term is equally rare in both varieties.

Connotations

Identical connotations of market control or historical practice.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both regions, found almost exclusively in historical, economic, or legal texts.

Grammar

How to Use “coemption” in a Sentence

coemption of [commodity]to engage in coemptionthe coemption was [adjective]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
market coemptionattempted coemptionillegal coemptioncoemption of grain
medium
practise coemptionengage in coemptionaccused of coemption
weak
complete coemptionhistorical coemptionfinancial coemption

Examples

Examples of “coemption” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The merchant sought to coempt the region's wool supply.
  • They were prosecuted for attempting to coempt the market.

American English

  • The speculator tried to coempt the entire futures contract.
  • Laws were passed to prevent anyone from coempting essential goods.

adverb

British English

  • [No common adverbial form.]

American English

  • [No common adverbial form.]

adjective

British English

  • [No common adjectival form. 'Coemptive' is theoretically possible but unattested in standard use.]

American English

  • [No common adjectival form. 'Coemptive' is theoretically possible but unattested in standard use.]

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in discussions of anti-competitive practices or historical market manipulation.

Academic

Found in economic history, Roman law studies, and papers on market regulation.

Everyday

Virtually never used in everyday conversation.

Technical

A precise term in historical economics and certain legal contexts describing a specific type of purchase.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “coemption”

Strong

monopolisationengrossmentforestalling

Neutral

cornering the marketbuying up

Weak

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “coemption”

dispersal of goodsretail salecompetitive marketfree trade

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “coemption”

  • Using it to mean any large purchase.
  • Confusing it with 'redemption' or 'exemption'.
  • Assuming it is a common modern business term.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a very rare and largely historical term. You will encounter it almost exclusively in academic texts about economic history or Roman law.

Coemption specifically refers to the *act of buying* all of something to achieve control. A monopoly is the resulting *state of control* over a market, which can be achieved by various means, not just buying.

The verb form 'coempt' exists but is even rarer than the noun. It is grammatically correct but not in active modern use.

In modern economies, practices equivalent to coemption (cornering the market) are typically illegal under antitrust or competition laws designed to prevent market manipulation and ensure fair trade.

The act of buying up the whole supply of a commodity.

Coemption is usually formal, historical, legal, economic in register.

Coemption: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˈɛmpʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈɛmpʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • [None specific to this rare term]

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'CO-emption' as 'COMPLETELY buying' or 'CORNERING the market through purchase'.

Conceptual Metaphor

MARKET CONTROL IS OWNERSHIP OF ALL SUPPLY.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In the 18th century, laws were passed against the of coal, as it led to exorbitant prices for the poor.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary meaning of 'coemption'?

Practise

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Five interactive tools to remember words, train your ear, and build vocabulary in real context — drawn from this dictionary.

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coemption: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore