Usurpation Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˌjuːsərˈpeɪʃən/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

The act of taking possession or control of something forcibly or unjustly, often in place of someone who has a legal right to it; seizure or assumption of power without rightful authority.

Examples

• The dictator’s usurpation of power led to widespread protests.
• He accused his rival of attempting an unjust usurpation of the company.

Synonyms

• Seizure
• Conquest
• Assumption

Antonyms

• Abnegation
• Relegation

Etymology

The word “usurpation” comes from the Latin word “usurpare”, meaning “to occupy something wrongfully”.

Usage Notes

The word “usurpation” is often used in political contexts to describe the taking of power or control by someone who is not rightfully authorized to do so.

Cultural References

In literature, the concept of usurpation is explored in plays such as Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and “Hamlet”, where characters seize power and authority.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Usurpation” is often used in idiomatic expressions such as “usurp the throne” or “usurp the power”, which mean to take control of something without rightful authority.

Related Words or Phrases

Words such as “seizure”, “conquest”, “assumption”, and “occupation” are closely related to “usurpation” in terms of meaning and usage.

Collocations

“Usurpation” is often collocated with words such as “power”, “authority”, “control”, and “office”, which describe the thing being taken or seized.

Frequency of Use

The word “usurpation” is relatively rare in everyday language, but it is commonly used in formal or technical contexts such as law, politics, and history.

Common Misspellings

Common misspellings of “usurpation” include “usurperation”, “usurpaton”, and “usurpatin”.