noun

• The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc.
• An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone.
• A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief.
• One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness.
• A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology.
• (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.