Word
extermination
Phoneticsex·ter·mi·na·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ɪkˌstɝməˈneɪʃən/
UK/ɛkstˈɜːmɪnˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01killing pests or animals
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of killing all the insects or small animals that are causing a problem in a place.
n. the total eradication of a population of pests or vermin within a specific environment.
“The landlord ordered the extermination of the rats in the basement.”
“The city council implemented a rigorous program for the extermination of invasive species that were threatening the local ecosystem.”
Usage
Often used in the context of pest control or environmental management.
Synonyms
02total destruction of a group
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the killing of a large group of people, especially during a war or by a government.
n. the systematic and total destruction of a group of people; frequently used in historical and political discourse regarding genocide.
“The museum was built to remember those who suffered during the campaign of extermination.”
“Historians documented the systematic extermination of the indigenous population during the colonial expansion into the interior.”
Teaching tip
This is a very heavy, serious word. When applied to humans, it implies a lack of humanity and is often associated with war crimes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“But hope is not lost in Shelley’s reworking of the bleak vision of postapocalypse as terminal and total extermination of life.” “They committed mass murder, extermination, mass rape, forced expulsions.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French extermination, itself a learned borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin exterminātiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/extermination