coalition

coalition — noun

1. an agreement among several parties, groups, or countries to work together toward

1.nounB2
Definition

an agreement among several parties, groups, or countries to work together toward a shared outcome — most often describing a government that includes members from multiple parties when no single party holds enough power to rule on its own

Example

After the close election, three opposition parties formed a coalition to run the country together.

form a coalition + purpose clause

A coalition of local businesses and environmental groups pushed the city to ban single-use plastics.

coalition of [members] + action verb

Common collocations
  • form a coalition
  • join a coalition
  • build a coalition
  • lead a coalition
  • coalition government
  • coalition partner
  • ruling coalition
  • opposition coalition
Synonyms
  • alliance

    broader term that can be non-political and more permanent than a coalition

  • partnership

    implies a closer, more equal relationship, often between just two groups

  • federation

    a much more formal and permanent union of states or organisations

  • union

    suggests a stronger, more unified structure with less independence for members

Antonyms
  • division

    the state of being separated or in disagreement

  • split

    the act of a coalition breaking apart into separate groups

Grammar Patterns

coalition of [groups]

form + a + coalition

coalition + government/noun

Usage Note

Typically used in the singular form. Appears most often in political news to describe a government formed by multiple parties, but also works for temporary cooperation between businesses, community organisations, or countries.

Common Mistakes

The two parties coalitioned to win the election.
The two parties formed a coalition to win the election.
'coalition' is a noun and cannot be used as a verb.
The coalition between the two nations was written into their constitution as a permanent bond.
The coalition between the two nations was a temporary arrangement for a specific mission.
coalitions are expected to be temporary, unlike treaties or alliances that can be long-term.

Word family

  • coalitionist
    nounC2
  • coalesce
    verbC1
  • coalescence
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Coalition, alliance, partnership, federation, and union all refer to groups that cooperate, but each word carries a different degree of permanence and structure. A coalition is the most temporary and task-specific — political parties form one after an election to govern together, then separate when the goal is met or disagreements arise. An alliance is broader and often long-term: countries join military or trade alliances that last for decades. A partnership suggests a closer, more equal relationship, typically between two businesses or individuals. A federation is a permanent political structure where members share power under a central government while keeping some local control. A union implies the strongest integration, as in the European Union, where members pool significant authority. For example, 'The three parties entered a coalition to pass the budget,' but 'The two companies formed a partnership to develop a new app.'

alliance ↗partnership ↗federation ↗union ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • form a coalition
  • build a coalition
  • join a coalition
  • lead a coalition

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'coalitus', the past participle of 'coalescere' (to grow together), which combines 'com-' (together) and 'alescere' (to grow). English adopted the word in the 1600s from French 'coalition'. Its political meaning — parties joining to govern — became common in the 1700s.