Word
removal
Phoneticsre·moval
US/ɹɪˈmuvəɫ/
UK/ɹɪmˈuːvəl/
Definitions
01taking something away
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of taking something away from a place or person.
n. the act of taking something away or eliminating it from a specific location or context.
“The removal of the old furniture made the room look much larger.”
“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'.
Synonyms
02moving house
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. the process of moving your furniture and belongings to a new home or office.
n. the relocation of a household or business to a different premises.
“We hired a removal company to help us move our boxes to the new flat.”
“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'.
Teaching tip
In American English, people almost always say 'moving' or 'the move' instead of 'removal' for this context.
Synonyms
03dismissal from a job
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the act of forcing someone out of an important job or position.
n. the formal dismissal or ousting of a person from a position of authority or office.
“The board of directors voted for the removal of the CEO after the scandal.”
“The constitutional process for the removal of a sitting judge requires a significant majority in both houses of parliament.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04funeral ritual
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Dialect
n. a ceremony where a coffin is moved to a church the evening before a funeral.
n. a specific funeral rite involving the transfer of the deceased's remains to a church on the eve of the funeral mass.
“Many friends and neighbours attended the removal to pay their respects to the family.”
“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.
Teaching tip
This is a culturally specific term used in Ireland; learners elsewhere are unlikely to encounter it in daily life.
05murder
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Slang
n. a secret or slang way to talk about killing someone.
n. a euphemistic or slang term for the act of killing or assassinating someone.
“The gang leader ordered the removal of his rival to take over the territory.”
“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'.
Teaching tip
This sense is often found in crime fiction or political thrillers.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “removal” in context.
Verb
01. demand the removal of the official
“Protesters gathered outside the capitol to demand the removal of the official following the scandal.”
verb + noun + of + noun
02. facilitate the removal of waste
“New regulations were introduced to facilitate the removal of hazardous waste from industrial sites.”
verb + noun + of + noun
03. seek the removal of the barrier
“Local activists continue to seek the removal of the barrier that divides the two neighborhoods.”
verb + noun + of + noun
Adjective
04. forcible removal
“The forcible removal of the tenants sparked a heated debate about housing rights.”
adj + noun
05. imminent removal
“The staff were warned about the imminent removal of the old equipment to make room for the new lab.”
adj + noun
06. surgical removal
“The doctor recommended the surgical removal of the tumor to prevent further complications.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. removal company
“We hired a professional removal company to help us transport our furniture to the new apartment.”
noun + noun
08. removal of trade barriers
“Economists argue that the removal of trade barriers will stimulate international growth.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
09. upon removal from the office
“Upon removal from the office, the former director was asked to return all company property.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Eurovision said it believed the posts weren't in "the spirit of the competition", and ordered their removal.” “Earlier this week another family told how their father, a dementia patient in full-time care, was also threatened with removal after 25 years in Sweden.” “He replaced the late Cyrus Mistry, whose abrupt removal from the post months earlier had triggered a bitter legal battle.” “After Maduro’s removal, US influence in Venezuela soared, but experts say Washington may still have to ‘own’ Venezuela.” Etymology
From remove + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/removal