German word

Erpressung

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈpʁɛsʊŋ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounextortion

Example

Letztes Jahr gab es mehrere Erpressungen in unserer Stadt.

There were several cases of extortion in our city last year.

Illustration for Erpressung (extortion)

More examples

Die Zeugin zeigte die Erpressung sofort bei der Polizei an.

The witness immediately reported the extortion to the police.

Core concept

A person uses threatened harm or exposure to force another person to give something or comply.

Common phrases

  • Erpressung anzeigen

    report extortion

  • Erpressung begehen

    commit extortion

  • Opfer einer Erpressung

    victim of extortion

Similar words

Drohung: A statement threatening harm to make someone feel afraid.
Nötigung: A criminal act that forces someone to act through violence or threats.
Erpresser: A person who uses threats or pressure to obtain money or other benefits.
Erpressungsversuch: An attempted act of obtaining something through threats before anything is actually taken.

Definition in German

Erpressung bezeichnet eine Straftat, bei der jemand durch Drohung oder Nötigung Geld, Informationen oder ein bestimmtes Verhalten erzwingt.

Word origin

The suffix -ung turns erpressen into the event noun Erpressung, while the verb is historically connected with pressen and Latin pressare.

Usage tips

  • The verb takes the person as an accusative object, as in jemanden erpressen, and um often introduces the demanded thing, as in jemanden um Geld erpressen.

Other meanings

  • blackmailnoun

Related words

  • erpressenextortverb
  • Erpresserextortionistnoun
  • erpresserischextortionateadjective

Word lists with this word