Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

implicit type conversion
     
         (Or "coercion") The abilty of some {compilers}
        to automatically insert {type} conversion {functions} where an
        expression of one type is used in a context where another type
        is expected.
     
        A common example is coercion of {integers} to {reals} so that
        an expression like sin(1) is compiled as sin(integerToReal(1))
        where sin is of type Real -> Real.
     
        A coercion is usually performed automatically by the compiler
        whereas a {cast} is an {explicit type conversion} inserted by
        the programmer.
     
        See also {subtype}.
     
        (1997-07-28)