# eradicate

/ɪˈɹædəˌkeɪt/ (US) · /ɪɹˈædɪkˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eradicate
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to get rid of something completely so that it never comes back. You use this for things that are very bad, like diseases or poverty.

For teachers: to destroy or remove something completely; to put an end to something undesirable. Often used in the context of public health, social issues, or pests.

## Examples

- The government hopes to eradicate poverty within ten years.
- Global health organizations worked together for decades to eradicate smallpox through a massive vaccination campaign.
- While the new policy aims to eradicate corruption within the local police force, critics argue that systemic changes are required to prevent the same patterns from re-emerging.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The disease was eradicated from the world." but "The disease was eradicated." — While 'from' is grammatically possible, 'eradicate' itself implies total removal, making 'from the world' redundant in most contexts.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.