extermination
pronunciation
How to pronounce extermination in British English:
UK [ɪkˌstɜ:mɪ'neɪʃn]
How to pronounce extermination in American English:
US [ɪkˌstɜmɪ'neɪʃn]
-
- Noun:
- complete annihilation
- the act of exterminating
Word Origin
- extermination (n.)
- mid-15c., "repulsion;" 1540s, "utter destruction, eradication," from Middle French extermination and directly from Latin exterminationem (nominative exterminatio) "ejection, banishment," noun of action from past participle stem of exterminare (see exterminate).
Example
- 1. The most threatening change , from my perspective , is extermination of species .
- 2. In principle , then , extermination should be possible .
- 3. As examples , the scientists pointed to a number of technologies as diverse as experimental medical systems that interact with patients to simulate empathy , and computer worms and viruses that defy extermination and could thus be said to have reached a " cockroach " stage of machine intelligence .
- 4. On the face of things , there are few more powerful forces for the extermination of languages than it .
- 5. Capitalist countries also participated in great historical injustices such as the african slave trade , extermination of indigenous peoples , and imperialist exploitation of colonies .