Definition of "persuasion" [per•sua•sion]

• 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). (noun)
• The ability or power to persuade: "Three foremost aids to persuasion which occur to me are humility, concentration, and gusto” ( Marianne Moore). (noun)
• A strongly held opinion; a conviction. See Synonyms at opinion. (noun)
• A body of religious beliefs; a religion: worshipers of various persuasions. (noun)
• A party, faction, or group holding to a particular set of ideas or beliefs. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "'' It's what we call a persuasion flight, '' Ferrer said."
• ""It's what we call a persuasion flight," Ferrer said."
• "Perhaps "persuasion" is just a dubious word-choice and what is meant is more specifically the negotiation of the audience to a certain point of view by logically justifying it, but even if so, it's not wise to let this contrast of reason and rapture slide by unchallenged."