English Reference

Word

erection

Phoneticserec·tion

US/ɪˈɹɛkʃən/

UK/ɪɹˈɛkʃən/

Definitions

01building a structure

C1

n. the act of building or putting up a large structure like a bridge or a statue.

n. the act of constructing or assembling a large physical structure. Often used in formal or technical contexts regarding engineering and architecture.

“The erection of the new stadium took nearly three years to complete.”

“The rapid erection of temporary housing units was essential for the displaced population following the earthquake.”

Formal

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

02a built structure

C1

n. something that has been built, especially a large or unusual building.

n. a physical object that has been erected or constructed. Frequently carries a slightly formal or descriptive tone.

“The iron tower was a strange erection in the middle of the park.”

“The skyline was dominated by a massive steel erection that served as the city's primary telecommunications hub.”

Formal

03physiological state

B2 · Medicine

n. the state of a body part, such as the penis, becoming firm and standing up.

n. the physiological process or state in which erectile tissue becomes engorged with blood and becomes rigid.

“The doctor explained that certain medications can affect a man's ability to get an erection.”

“The study focused on the neurological triggers that initiate an erection in response to specific stimuli.”

Technical

Teaching tip

While this is a neutral medical term, it is the most common way the word is used in everyday life; students should be aware of its sexual connotation before using it in a construction context.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ērectiō, ērectiōnis, noun of action from perfect passive participle ērectus, from verb erigō, from prefix ē- (“out of”) + regō, + action suffix -iō.

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

Word family

erectVerberectionNoun

Related words

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/erection

English Reference