# compulsion

> English word · Noun · IPA /kəmˈpʌl.ʃən/ · frequency rank #25,325

## Definitions
1. An irrational need or irresistible urge to perform some action, often despite negative consequences.
2. The use of authority, influence, or other power to force (compel) a person or persons to act.
3. The lawful use of violence (i.e. by the administration).

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French compulsion, from Late Latin compulsiō, from Latin compellere (“to compel, coerce”); see compel.

## Easily confused with
- **compulsive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compulsion-vs-compulsive)
- **compassion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compassion-vs-compulsion)

## Common misspellings (16)
`ccompulsion`, `cmopulsion`, `commpulsion`, `complusion`, `comppulsion`, `compulison`, `compullsion`, `compulsino`, `compulsionn`, `compulsoin`, `compulssion`, `compultion`, `compuslion`, `comuplsion`, `copmulsion`, `ocmpulsion`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/compulsion