English Reference
noun

elimination

n.
US /ɪˌɫɪməˈneɪʃən/ UK /ɪlˌɪmɪnˈeɪʃən/ elim·i·na·tion UK spelling eliminations

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of removing or getting rid of something completely.

    the act of removing or excluding something from a set, system, or consideration.

    Simple

    The elimination of waste in the factory helped the company save a lot of money.

    In context

    Through a careful process of elimination, the detectives ruled out every suspect who had a solid alibi for the night of the crime.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'process of elimination' to describe finding an answer by removing wrong options.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    the act of being removed from a game or competition because you lost.

    the exclusion of a contestant or team from a tournament following a defeat or a vote.

    Simple

    The team was sad after their elimination from the tournament in the first round.

    In context

    The sudden elimination of the defending champions in the quarter-finals shocked the fans and changed the betting odds for the entire tournament.

    Usage

    Commonly used in 'elimination round' or 'elimination match'.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    the way your body gets rid of waste products.

    the physiological process of discharging or excreting waste products from the body.

    Simple

    Drinking plenty of water is important for the healthy elimination of toxins.

    In context

    The kidneys play a vital role in the elimination of nitrogenous waste and the maintenance of fluid balance within the body.

    Usage

    Uncountable when referring to the general biological function.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a formal or medical term; in everyday conversation, people use more direct words like 'going to the bathroom'.

    excretiondischarge
  4. 04 C1 Advanced AcademicTechnical Math

    removing a variable from an equation to make it easier to solve.

    the process of removing one or more variables from a system of equations to simplify the solving process.

    Simple

    We used the elimination method to find the value of x in the algebra problem.

    In context

    Gaussian elimination remains a fundamental algorithm in linear algebra for solving systems of linear equations and finding the rank of a matrix.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency TechnicalFormal Law

    removing transactions between companies in the same group so the final report is accurate.

    the process of removing the effects of inter-company transactions when preparing consolidated financial statements.

    Simple

    The accountant performed an elimination of the internal sales between the two branches.

    In context

    During the year-end audit, the team focused on the elimination of inter-company profits to ensure the consolidated balance sheet reflected only external market activity.

    Usage

    Usually refers to 'consolidation eliminations' in financial reporting.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly specialized term used by auditors and corporate accountants.

Students at Meredith College in North Carolina are protesting layoffs they say have led to fewer courses offered and the elimination of four dean positions.

The Guardian· 8 Sept 2026

Sydney has dominated this season, currently placing second on the ladder which guarantees them a spot in the qualifying and elimination finals' round that begins in two weeks.

BBC News· 19 Aug 2026

Borrowed from Latin ēliminātiō, from eliminate + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin ēliminātiō
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated