Other forms: coalitions
A coalition is a government or alliance formed by two or more parties together. A coalition government, form a coalition, a broad coalition.
When no party wins a majority, a coalition is the usual way to govern, and coalition talks after an election can run for weeks or in some countries months. It is normal in much of Europe and unusual in Britain. Outside politics, a coalition is any alliance formed for one purpose: a coalition of charities. Note coalesce, which is the verb behind it and means to merge into one.
1nouncoalitionA government formed by two or more parties together.
“After the election no party had a majority, so two of them formed a coalition.”
2nounallianceAny alliance formed for one purpose.
“A coalition of parents, teachers and local businesses fought to save the school.”
coalition is an alliance.
Latin coalitus is co- plus alescere, to grow up — a coalition is things that have grown together. Coalesce is the same verb, and adult and adolescent come from the same growing.
Medieval Latin
coalitiō
Middle French
coalition
English, today
coalition
Borrowed from Middle French coalition, from Medieval Latin coalitiō. Middle French coalition, from Medieval Latin coalitiō, from Latin coalitus. Compare coalescence.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Politics & Society