Persuasion

English Meaning

The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination.

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.
4. A body of religious beliefs; a religion: worshipers of various persuasions.
5. A party, faction, or group holding to a particular set of ideas or beliefs.
6. Informal Kind; sort: "the place where ... rockers of any gender or persuasion can become megastars” ( Christopher John Farley).