Word Explorer
Children's
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
Intermediate Dictionary        

per·se·cu·tion

persecution

 
pronunciation:
puhr s kyu shn
features:
Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition: the act of continually treating others in a cruel way because of race, religion, politics, or some other difference from oneself or from the majority within a society; or the condition of being treated in this way.
Many people came to America to escape religious persecution.
derivation: persecutional (adj.)
Word Explorer
See
  religion