persecution
C1Formal; used in academic, legal, journalistic, and historical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The act or practice of systematically oppressing, harassing, or causing severe suffering to a person or group, especially for their race, politics, or religion.
Can also refer to persistent, unfair, or annoying treatment from someone in authority, or a general feeling of being unfairly targeted or harassed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a power imbalance where a stronger entity (e.g., a state, majority) targets a weaker one. Often involves sustained, systematic hostility rather than a single act. Contains a strong moral judgment of injustice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are standard.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of systemic injustice and suffering in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency, common in discussions of human rights, history, and politics.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
persecution of [GROUP]persecution by [AUTHORITY/PERPETRATOR]persecution for [REASON]persecution on the grounds of/on grounds of [REASON]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a witch hunt”
- “on the receiving end”
- “a campaign of vilification”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically for aggressive, unfair targeting in a corporate rivalry.
Academic
Common in history, political science, sociology, and religious studies to describe systemic oppression.
Everyday
Used to describe severe, sustained unfair treatment by authorities or groups (e.g., at school, in the community).
Technical
Key term in international law (e.g., refugee law, where 'well-founded fear of persecution' is a criterion for asylum).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The regime was accused of persecuting its ethnic minorities.
- He claimed he was being persecuted for his trade union activities.
American English
- The group was persecuted for their religious beliefs.
- She felt persecuted by the relentless media scrutiny.
adverb
British English
- The government acted persecutorily towards dissenting voices.
American English
- The law was applied persecutorily against a single community.
adjective
British English
- The persecutory laws were finally repealed.
- He had a persecutory delusion that his neighbours were spying on him.
American English
- They lived under a persecutory regime for decades.
- The report documented the persecutory tactics used by the government.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The king was bad and started the persecution of the poor people.
- They left their country because of persecution.
- Many people fled the country to escape religious persecution.
- She suffered persecution at work after reporting the fraud.
- The historical record details the systematic persecution of the minority group over several centuries.
- An application for asylum must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution.
- The scholar's work analyses the nexus between state-building and the persecution of internal 'others'.
- The novel is a profound allegory for the psychological effects of living under constant political persecution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'PERSEvering' in causing harm to a particular 'SECTION' of people. The 'secu' part sounds like 'pursue' – to pursue someone with hostility.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSECUTION IS A HUNT / PURSUIT (e.g., 'hounded by authorities'), PERSECUTION IS A BURDEN / WEIGHT (e.g., 'under persecution'), PERSECUTION IS A DISEASE / PLAGUE (e.g., 'a wave of persecution spread').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'преследование' in the neutral sense of 'pursuit' or 'chase' (e.g., in sports). In English, 'persecution' is always negative and severe. The Russian 'гонения' is a closer match.
- Avoid using for minor or singular instances of unfairness; use 'harassment' or 'bullying' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as 'per-SECK-you-shun' (incorrect stress). Correct stress is on the third syllable: 'per-si-CUE-shun'.
- Using it for trivial complaints (e.g., 'My boss's persecution over my late reports' – use 'harassment' or 'nagging').
- Confusing 'persecution' (systematic oppression) with 'prosecution' (legal action in court).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates 'persecution'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Persecution is more severe and systematic, often involving violence, severe harassment, or a threat to life/liberty. Discrimination is broader and can range from mild unfairness to severe exclusion, but persecution implies a sustained campaign of oppression.
Yes, though it's less common. It can be used to describe severe, sustained bullying or harassment in other contexts (e.g., workplace, school), but it retains its sense of systematic, unfair targeting by those with more power.
The primary noun is 'persecutor'. The related term 'persecutioner' is archaic and not used in modern English.
A 'persecution complex' is a specific type of paranoia where a person believes they are being persecuted, harassed, or conspired against, often without sufficient evidence. Paranoia is a broader term for irrational distrust and suspicion of others.
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Global Issues
B2 · 47 words · Vocabulary for discussing world problems and politics.
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