persuasion

1. An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone.Examples: "Some of the shopowners were resistant to the extortion, so the mafia did some persuasion."countableeuphemisticuncountable

2. (by extension, often humorous) Another personal, animal or inanimate trait that is not (very) liable to be changed by persuasion, such as sex, gender, ethnicity, origin, profession or nature.Examples: "1871 February 14, J.J., "More Solution", Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star, page 105. Let us pray that the next generation be all of the male persuasion."; "To say that a woman is of the female persuasion was originally meant for a joke. As such it might pass — once. You might, indeed, refuse to smile; still, you wouldn't feel like invoking the law. But the constant and persistent use of this unfunny bit of fun has grown to be something of a public calamity. It is matter or congratulation, however, that such linguistic lese-majesty is far more common in England than in America."; "AND turning for tor the moment from National to local affairs, we note there is a chimpanzee of the female persuasion out at Lincoln Park, of whom it is said that she can do everything but talk."broadlycountablehumorousoftenuncountable