the act of coercing; use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance.
2.
force or the power to use force in gaining compliance, as by a government or police force.
Origin
1515-25; < Medieval Latincoerciōn- (stem of coerciō), Latincoerctiōn-, syncopated variant of coercitiōn-, equivalent to coercit(us) (past participle of coercēre to coerce) + -iōn--ion; replacing late Middle Englishcohercion < Middle French < Latin as above
early 15c., from Old French cohercion (Modern French coercion), from Medieval Latin coercionem, from Latin coerctionem, earlier coercitionem, noun of action from past participle stem of coercere (see coerce).