Dictionary

manipulation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /məˌnɪp.jəˈlæɪ.ʃən/ (Australia)
• /məˌnɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/ (Canada, US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /məˌnɪp.juˈleɪ.ʃən/ (UK)

Etymology

From French manipulation, from Old French manipule, from Latin manipulus. Morphologically manipulate + -ion.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The practice of manipulating or the state of being manipulated.
   • The rear portion of the tender top is flat and open so as to facilitate the manipulation of the water crane. 1956 April, “"Merchant Navy" Class Pacific Modified”, in Railway Magazine, page 212:
   • The dealer's manipulations could have removed cards from the deck.
2. (countable, uncountable) The skillful use of the hands in, for example, chiropractic.
   • After a few minutes of manipulation each week, she obtained days of relief from her neck pain.
3. (countable, uncountable) The usage of psychological influence over a person, event, or situation to gain a desired outcome.
   • Through subtle manipulations he orchestrated the downfall of his rival.
   • A dormant and defunded CPB could have become vulnerable to future political manipulation or misuse, threatening the independence of public media and the trust audiences place in it, and potentially subjecting staff and board members to legal exposure from bad-faith actors.” 2026 January 5, Michael Schneider, “Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Shut Down After 58 Years Due to Trump Eliminating Funding”, in Variety, archived from the original on 07 Jan 2026:
   • The counselor was able to reach the disturbed teen through positive psychological manipulation.

Forms

Deriveds

postmanipulation · micromanipulation · telemanipulation · automanipulation · immunomanipulation · womanipulation · manipulational · psychomanipulation · crowd manipulation · biomanipulation · nonmanipulation · photomanipulation · electromanipulation · object manipulation · antimanipulation · nanomanipulation

Relateds

pedipulation

Translations (69)

hu manipuláció (practice of manipulating) · fa دستکاری (practice of manipulating) · sh манипула́ција (practice of manipulating) · cmn 運用 /运用 (practice of manipulating) · gl manipulación (skillful use of the hands) · nl misbruik (devious management) · fi manipulaatio (devious management) · ar تَعْدِيل (practice of manipulating) · nb manipulasjon (practice of manipulating) · pl manipulacja (devious management) · fa دستورزی (skillful use of the hands) · fy manipulaasje (practice of manipulating) · de Manipulation (practice of manipulating) · sq manipulim (practice of manipulating) · uk маніпуля́ція (practice of manipulating) · cs manipulace (practice of manipulating) · nl manipulatie (devious management) · sv manipulation (practice of manipulating) · ka მანიპულაცია (practice of manipulating) · ru манипуля́ция (practice of manipulating) · hu manipuláció (devious management) · da manipulation (practice of manipulating) · sh manipulácija (skillful use of the hands) · ca manipulació (skillful use of the hands) · bg бора́вене (skillful use of the hands) · ca manipulació (practice of manipulating) · hy մեքենայություն (devious management) · sh manipulácija (practice of manipulating) · sk manipulácia (practice of manipulating) · bg манипула́ция (practice of manipulating) · pl manipulacja (practice of manipulating) · fr manipulation (devious management) · ru манипули́рование (practice of manipulating) · uk маніпуля́ція (devious management) · et manipulatsioon (practice of manipulating) · nl gebruik (practice of manipulating) · sh манипула́ција (skillful use of the hands) · el χειραγώγηση (practice of manipulating) · hy մանիպուլյացիա (practice of manipulating) · uk маніпуля́ція (skillful use of the hands) · hy ձեռնածություն (devious management) · ar تَلَاعُب (practice of manipulating) · lv manipulācija (practice of manipulating) · de Manipulierung (devious management) · it manipolazione (practice of manipulating) · vi sự thao tác (practice of manipulating) · uk маніпулюва́ння (practice of manipulating) · fr manipulation (practice of manipulating) · lt manipuliacija (practice of manipulating) · be маніпуля́цыя (practice of manipulating) · de Manipulation (devious management) · es manipulación (devious management) · cmn 操縱 /操纵 (practice of manipulating) · pt manipulação (practice of manipulating) · mk манипулација (practice of manipulating) · ar تَغْيِير (practice of manipulating) · gl manipulación (devious management) · ro manipulare (practice of manipulating) · fi manipulaatio (practice of manipulating) · tr manipülasyon (practice of manipulating) · gl manipulación (practice of manipulating) · pl manipulacja (skillful use of the hands) · es manipulación (practice of manipulating) · bg подве́ждане (devious management) · id manipulasi (practice of manipulating) · sl manipulacija (practice of manipulating) · de Manipulieren (devious management) · nl manipulatie (practice of manipulating) · nl manipulatie (skillful use of the hands)