Compulsion
Pronunciation
- enPR: kÉ™m-pÅl'shÉ™n
Origin
From Middle French compulsion, from Late Latin compulsiÅ, from Latin compellere ("to compel, coerce"); see compel.
Full definition of compulsion
Noun
compulsion
(plural compulsions)- An irrational need to perform some action, often despite negative consequences.
- 2013-06-07, David Simpson, Fantasy of navigation, It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in the basket a balloon: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; ….
- During the basketball game, I had a sudden compulsion to have a smoke.
- The use of authority, influence, or other power to force (compel) a person or persons to act.
- The lawful use of violence (i.e. by the administration).