Noun: extortion ik'stor-shun
- The felonious act of extorting money (as by threats of violence)
"The gang's extortion racket targeted small businesses in the neighbourhood"
- Unjust exaction (as by the misuse of authority)
"the extortion by dishonest officials of fees for performing their sworn duty"
- An exorbitant charge
"The tourists complained about the extortion practised by some local taxi drivers"
Derived forms: extortions
Type of: daylight robbery [Brit, informal], exaction, felony, overcharge, rip-off [informal]
Encyclopedia: Extortion