A plain extortion definition: extortion is the crime of getting money, property, services or some other benefit from a person by using threats, such as threats of violence, damage, exposing secrets, or misusing official power. The victim hands it over because they are afraid of what will happen if they do not.
Outside the courtroom, people also use the word loosely for a price or demand that feels unfairly high: twenty dollars for a bottle of water is extortion. Here you will see what extortion means in law, everyday forms it takes, how it compares with blackmail, bribery and robbery, and how to use the related word extortionate.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Obtaining money or property from someone through threats, force or abuse of powerPart of speech
NounPronunciation
ik-STOR-shuhnWord forms
extort (verb), extortionist or extortioner (person), extortionate (adjective)Origin
Latin extorquere, to twist out, from ex- (out) + torquere (to twist)Close words
blackmail, coercion, shakedown, racketeeringRegister
Formal and legal; also informal for overcharging
What does extortion mean?
Three things usually sit at the heart of extortion:
- A threat. Of physical harm, damage to property, false accusations, leaking private information, or using an official position against someone.
- A demand. For money, goods, a signature, a service or some other benefit.
- Fear-driven consent. The victim gives in because of the threat, not because they truly agree.
The second extortion meaning is informal: calling a charge extortion means it is outrageously high, though no crime has taken place. Hotel minibars and airport food are favourite targets.
Common forms of extortion
- Protection rackets. A gang demands regular payments from a shop owner to "protect" the shop from damage the gang itself would cause.
- Blackmail. Threatening to reveal embarrassing or damaging information unless paid.
- Cyber extortion. Locking a company's files with malicious software or stealing data, then demanding payment, often in cryptocurrency, to restore or not publish it.
- Sextortion. Threatening to share intimate images unless the victim pays or sends more.
- Extortion by officials. Someone in power demanding payment to approve a permit or avoid a false charge. This is sometimes called extortion under colour of office.
The legal extortion definition in brief
Legal wording differs by country, but the core idea is similar. Indian criminal law now sits in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the code that took over from the Indian Penal Code, and it handles extortion in Section 308. It describes intentionally putting a person in fear of injury so as to dishonestly induce them to deliver property or a valuable security, with heavier punishment when the threat is of death or grievous hurt. The earlier Code covered the same offence in Sections 383 to 389.
In the United States, extortion is a crime under state laws, and federal law also covers extortion that affects trade between states or involves public officials. Many US laws treat blackmail as one kind of extortion. In England and Wales, the usual charge for this kind of conduct is blackmail. In most systems, the crime can be complete once the threat and demand are made, even if nothing is handed over.
Extortion compared with blackmail, robbery and bribery
| Offence | Key feature |
|---|---|
| extortion | a threat, often of future harm, used to get money or property |
| blackmail | a type of extortion; the threat is usually to expose information |
| robbery | taking property directly from a person by force or immediate threat |
| bribery | offering or accepting something valuable to influence a decision, with both sides willing |
| money laundering | disguising the criminal source of funds |
The simple test: in bribery both sides choose to deal; in extortion one side is pushed by fear. Online threats often start with phishing or doxxing, which can lead to extortion attempts.
Sentences using extortion and extort
- The gang leader was jailed for extortion after shopkeepers testified against him.
- Police say the caller tried to extort money from elderly residents by pretending to be a tax officer.
- Paying a ransom to hackers may encourage further extortion.
- Charging that much for a parking spot is pure extortion.
- Her landlord's extortionate rent increase forced her to move out.
Origin and word family
Extortion comes, through Old French, from Late Latin extortio, built on the verb extorquere, "to twist out" or "wrench away" (ex-, out, plus torquere, to twist). The same twisting root gives English torture, torque and distort. The picture is of wringing something out of a person against their will.
Use extort as the verb (extort money from someone, not "extort someone for money" in careful writing), extortionist for the person, and extortionate for prices or demands that are far too high. Find more legal terms in our law and society section.
Frequently asked questions
How would you define extortion in simple words?
Extortion means scaring someone into giving you money or something valuable by threatening to hurt them, their property or their reputation. It is a crime in almost every country.
Is blackmail the same as extortion?
Blackmail is a kind of extortion. The threat in blackmail is usually to reveal damaging information, while extortion covers threats of any kind, including violence.
Is it extortion if no money changes hands?
Often yes. In many legal systems, making the threat with the aim of getting property or a benefit is enough, even if the victim refuses. The details depend on local law.
What does extortionate mean?
Extortionate is an adjective for prices, fees or demands that are unreasonably high. It does not mean a crime has happened, only that the cost feels unfair.
What is the definition of extortion compared with bribery?
In extortion the person who pays is forced by fear. In bribery the payer chooses to offer something to gain an unfair advantage, and both sides can be guilty.
Someone is trying to extort me. What now?
Do not pay at once, keep all messages and evidence, and report it to the police or the cybercrime unit in your area. Legal advice from a qualified lawyer can help you decide next steps.