Word
eradication
Phoneticserad·i·ca·tion
US/ɪˌɹædəˈkeɪʃən/
UK/ɪɹˌædɪkˈeɪʃən/
Definition
n. the act of completely getting rid of something unwanted, like a disease or poverty.
n. the complete destruction or elimination of something, particularly in a medical or social context. Uncountable in general use, though specific instances may be countable.
Examples
“The eradication of smallpox is a major medical success.”
“Public health officials are working toward the global eradication of polio through mass vaccination programs.”
“The total eradication of invasive species from the island required years of meticulous monitoring and the implementation of strict biosecurity protocols to prevent reintroduction.”
Examples
simple
“The eradication of smallpox is a major medical success.”
contextual
“Public health officials are working toward the global eradication of polio through mass vaccination programs.”
complex
“The total eradication of invasive species from the island required years of meticulous monitoring and the implementation of strict biosecurity protocols to prevent reintroduction.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the target being removed.
Real-World Examples
“Scientists estimate its population numbers in the billions, making eradication unrealistic.” “In counties where hog eradication efforts were coordinated, however, the average claim for cornfield acres damaged from wildlife declined to 10 acres per policy.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin ērādīcātiō, from ērādīcō + -tiō, from ē- (“out”) + rādīx (“root”) + -ō. Equivalent to eradicate + -ion or e- (“without”) + radication.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/eradication