Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

extermination

/ɪkstˌɝmənˈeɪʃən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.13 in modern English

Syllables: ex-ter-mi-na-tion
IPA: /ɪkstˌɝmənˈeɪʃən/

22

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

5

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The act of exterminating; total destruction or eradication.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"extermination of error or vice"
"extermination of weeds from a field"
"Depending on the case, extermination of a group of people may constitute genocide or crime against humanity."
"Caley locomotive types, especially such numerous things as McIntosh goods and tank engines, have defied extermination over a good many years now."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French extermination, itself a learned borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin exterminātiō.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: extermination, exterminātiō

Usage

Inflected Forms

exterminations (plural)

Derived Forms

exterminationism exterminationist nonextermination

Phrases

extermination camp

Synonyms

excision liquidation extinction

Rhymes With

information education situation population station association administration operation organization nation location application

Questions

How do you pronounce extermination?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪkstˌɝmənˈeɪʃən/.
What does extermination mean?: The act of exterminating; total destruction or eradication.
Where does extermination come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce extermination

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “extermination”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪkstˌɝmənˈeɪʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “extermination”.
Repeat and practice — Say “extermination” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.