persecution
noun
per·se·cu·tion
ˌpər-si-ˈkyü-shən 
1
: the act or practice of persecuting especially those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook
2
: the condition of being persecuted, harassed, or annoyed
Examples of persecution in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Refugee Act of 1980, which codified legal protections for those fleeing persecution, was supposed to be insulated from domestic identity politics.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 1 June 2025
Some videos show other Central Asian minorities from Xinjiang, including Kazakhs and Kyrgyz people, who also face persecution and are covered by the U.S. law.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 29 May 2025
This includes a $1,000 fee for asylum applications, which currently does not exist.
Asylum applications fluctuate year to year, but recently hundreds of thousands of people have applied for asylum in the U.S. each year to escape persecution or violence in their home countries.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 28 May 2025
Reasonable fear interviews typically assess whether a migrant can stay in the U.S. because of a risk of persecution or torture.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecution
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Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 1 June 2025
Some videos show other Central Asian minorities from Xinjiang, including Kazakhs and Kyrgyz people, who also face persecution and are covered by the U.S. law.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 29 May 2025
This includes a $1,000 fee for asylum applications, which currently does not exist.
Asylum applications fluctuate year to year, but recently hundreds of thousands of people have applied for asylum in the U.S. each year to escape persecution or violence in their home countries.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 28 May 2025
Reasonable fear interviews typically assess whether a migrant can stay in the U.S. because of a risk of persecution or torture.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecution
Cite this Entry
“Persecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persecution. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
persecution
noun
per·se·cu·tion
ˌpər-si-ˈkyü-shən
1
: the act or practice of persecuting
2
: the condition of being persecuted
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