Definition

1. Noun:
   • A temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action: A coalition is a group formed by different entities who agree to work together, usually for a specific purpose or for a limited time, while remaining distinct.
   • The act or process of uniting into one body or group: Coalition can refer to the process of forming such an alliance or union.
   • A union or fusion into one mass or body: In a broader sense, it can describe the state of being combined.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The two political parties formed a coalition to gain a majority in parliament.
  • An international coalition was assembled to address the humanitarian crisis.
  • The coalition of environmental groups successfully lobbied for new legislation.

Advanced Usage

• "Coalition government": A government formed by multiple political parties who cooperate to achieve a majority in a legislature.

  • After the election resulted in a hung parliament, the country was governed by a fragile coalition government.

• "In coalition with": Describes the state of being allied with another party or group.

  • The smaller party governed in coalition with the larger, more established one.

• "Broad-based coalition": An alliance that includes a wide range of groups or interests.

  • The protest movement was a broad-based coalition of students, workers, and professionals.

Variants and Related Words

• Coalesce (verb): To grow together or unite into a whole.

  • The separate movements eventually coalesced into a single, powerful organization.

• Coalitional (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of a coalition.

  • The negotiations were complex due to the coalitional nature of the governing body.

Synonyms

• Alliance: A union or association formed for mutual benefit.
• Federation: A group of states or organizations united under a central authority but remaining independent in internal affairs.
• Bloc: A combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose.
• Partnership: The state of being a partner or partners.

Related Phrases

• "Form/build a coalition": To create an alliance.

  • The candidate worked to build a coalition of voters from across the political spectrum.

• "Coalition of the willing": A phrase often used in international politics to describe a group of countries that agree to act together outside of a formal international organization.

  • The military action was undertaken by a coalition of the willing.

Related Idioms

• "Strange bedfellows": An idiom often used to describe the unlikely or unusual partners in a coalition.
  • Their political coalition made them strange bedfellows, but it was effective for passing the bill.

Noun

1. the union of diverse things into one body or form or group; the growing together of parts
2. the state of being combined into one body
3. an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty