# extort

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪkˈstɔː(ɹ)t/ · frequency rank #36,136

## Definitions
1. To take or seize from an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity.
2. To obtain by means of the offense of extortion.
3. To twist outwards.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquere (“to twist or wrench out, to extort”); from ex (“out”) + -tort, from torqueō (“twist, turn”).

## Easily confused with
- **exert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/exert-vs-extort)
- **effort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/effort-vs-extort)
- **expert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/expert-vs-extort)
- **extent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/extent-vs-extort)
- **export** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/export-vs-extort)
- **escort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/escort-vs-extort)
- **extant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/extant-vs-extort)

## Common misspellings (9)
`etxort`, `exotrt`, `extorrt`, `extortt`, `extotr`, `extrot`, `exttort`, `exxtort`, `xetort`

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