Duress
/d(j)ʊˈres/
Definitions
Compulsion by threat or force; coercion.
/d(j)ʊˈres/
Compulsion by threat or force.
The witness claimed he made the statement under duress.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone is threatening you unless you do something you don't want to. That's duress! Like, if someone tells you to give them your lunch money or they'll tell on you, that's duress.
👶 For kids: When someone makes you do something you don't want to do because they're scaring you or making threats.
More Examples
The company's actions, taken under duress, were later challenged in court.
The hostage situation ended after hours of negotiation, but only because the captors released the hostages under duress from law enforcement.
How It's Used
"The confession was obtained under duress, and is therefore inadmissible in court."
"She signed the agreement under duress, fearing for her safety."
Idioms & expressions
under duress
Forcibly, due to coercion or threat.
"He confessed to the crime under duress, after being threatened by the police."
From Middle English *durece*, from Old French *dureresse* ('hardness, severity'), from *dur* ('hard') + *-esse* (suffix forming nouns).
The term 'duress' has been used in legal and moral contexts for centuries, often concerning the validity of contracts or testimonies given under compulsion.