ENGLISH
REFERENCE

removal

n.
US //ɹɪˈmuvəɫ// UK //ɹɪmˈuːvəl// re·moval
  1. 1 taking something away (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of taking something away from a place or person.

    the act of taking something away or eliminating it from a specific location or context.

    Example

    The removal of the old furniture made the room look much larger.

    Example

    The surgical removal of the tumour was successful, and the patient is expected to make a full recovery within the month.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
  2. 2 moving house (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English

    the process of moving your furniture and belongings to a new home or office.

    the relocation of a household or business to a different premises.

    Example

    We hired a removal company to help us move our boxes to the new flat.

    Example

    The office removal was scheduled for the weekend to ensure that business operations were not disrupted during the working week.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the compound 'removal van' or 'removal company'.

    Teacher's tip

    In American English, people almost always say 'moving' or 'the move' instead of 'removal' for this context.
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  1. 3 dismissal from a job (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    the act of forcing someone out of an important job or position.

    the formal dismissal or ousting of a person from a position of authority or office.

    Example

    The board of directors voted for the removal of the CEO after the scandal.

    Example

    The constitutional process for the removal of a sitting judge requires a significant majority in both houses of parliament.
  2. 4 funeral ritual (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Dialect Religion

    a ceremony where a coffin is moved to a church the evening before a funeral.

    a specific funeral rite involving the transfer of the deceased's remains to a church on the eve of the funeral mass.

    Example

    Many friends and neighbours attended the removal to pay their respects to the family.

    Example

    The removal took place at seven o'clock, with a large procession following the hearse from the funeral home to the parish church.

    Usage

    Specific to Irish English cultural contexts.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a culturally specific term used in Ireland; learners elsewhere are unlikely to encounter it in daily life.

  3. 5 murder (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a secret or slang way to talk about killing someone.

    a euphemistic or slang term for the act of killing or assassinating someone.

    Example

    The gang leader ordered the removal of his rival to take over the territory.

    Example

    In the world of espionage, the term 'removal' is often used as a cold euphemism for state-sanctioned assassination.

    Usage

    Used as a euphemism to avoid using the word 'murder'.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is often found in crime fiction or political thrillers.
Origin

From remove + -al.

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