Meaning & use
extinction
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Meanings
noununcountable
The state in which a species or group has completely died out and no longer exists.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: 'The extinction of the dinosaurs happened long ago.'
Patterns
- the extinction of something
- face extinction
- be threatened with extinction
The extinction of the passenger pigeon was caused by hunting and habitat loss.
Many scientists believe that without action, these frogs will face extinction within decades.
The museum exhibit explains the extinction of the woolly mammoth.
noununcountableformal
The act of making a fire or light stop burning or shining.
Grammar: Often used in formal or technical contexts about fire safety.
Patterns
- the extinction of a fire
- fire extinction
The extinction of the fire took several hours.
Modern buildings have automatic systems for fire extinction.
Common combinations
- mass extinction
- The asteroid caused a mass extinction that wiped out most life on Earth.
- on the brink of extinction
- The mountain gorilla was once on the brink of extinction.
- bring something to extinction
- Overfishing could bring this species to extinction.
- extinction event
- The Permian extinction event was the largest in Earth's history.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dying out
- A phrasal verb that describes the process; 'extinction' is the final result.
- eradication
- Used for deliberately removing something completely, often a disease or pest, not usually a species.
Opposites
Word family
- extinct adjective
- No longer existing.
- extinguish verb
- To put out a fire or light.
Commonly confused: extinction or endangerment?
extinction vs endangerment
Endangerment means a species is at risk but still exists; extinction means it is completely gone.
Practice
Many rare birds are now on the brink of ______ due to deforestation.
Choose one answer.
'Extinction' is the correct noun for a species disappearing completely. 'Endangerment' means at risk but still alive; 'extinguisher' is a device; 'extinguish' is a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “extinction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.