# removal

/ɹɪˈmuvəɫ/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈuːvəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/removal
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. taking something away

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. moving house

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. dismissal from a job

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. funeral ritual

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. murder

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a secret or slang way to talk about killing someone.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The removal of the old tree made the garden look much larger.
- The city council ordered the immediate removal of all illegal posters from the downtown area.
- Following the discovery of structural flaws, the architect recommended the complete removal of the load-bearing wall to ensure the safety of the remaining residents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.