pulsion

P3U1L1S1I1O1N1
UK/ˈpʌlʃn̩/

noun

The act of driving forward; propulsion.

OriginFrench pulsion ← Latin pulsio →
UncommonFirst used 17th c.Scrabble 9
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Meanings

nounpulsion (plural pulsions)

plural pulsions

  1. archaicThe act of driving forward; propulsion.First known use 17th c.

    The same applies to the tempestuous rows within internet communities, where toxic pulsions of identification and disidentification generate passionate solidarities and sudden explosions of hostilities.

    2020 [2019], Richard Seymour, The Twittering Machine, Verso Books, →ISBN, page 99
  2. human sciencesA subconscious drive or impulse.First known use 20th c.

Origin

  1. Latinpulsio
  2. Frenchpulsion
  3. Englishpulsion

Borrowed from French pulsion, from Latin pulsio.

More words from French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Spanish pulsión
  • pulsiónTranslations

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

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Cite this entry
APA

pulsion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pulsion

MLA

“pulsion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pulsion. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pulsion,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pulsion.

Source: pulsion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.