1. The act of persuading or the state of being persuaded: “The persuasion of a democracy to big changes is at best a slow process” (Harold J. Laski). 2. The ability or power to persuade: “Three foremost aids to persuasion which occur to me are humility, concentration, and gusto” (Marianne Moore). 3. A strongly held opinion; a conviction. See synonyms at opinion. 4a. A body of religious beliefs; a religion: worshipers of various persuasions.b. A party, faction, or group holding to a particular set of ideas or beliefs. 5.Informal Kind; sort: “the place where … rockers of any gender or persuasion can become megastars” (Christopher John Farley, Time March 27, 1995).
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin persusi, persusin-, from persusus, past participle of persudre, to persuade. See persuade.
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, persu
re, to persuade. See persuade.
