extinction
[ɪkˈstɪŋkʃ(ə)n]
An extinction is when a species or a type of plant dies out completely. This means that there are no more members of that group left in the world.
Extinction is often used to talk about animals and plants, but it can also refer to other things like languages, cultures, or even ideas that have disappeared over time. For example, scientists might study the extinction of dinosaurs, while a historian could write about the extinction of a language that was once widely spoken. When we say that something has gone extinct, we mean that it no longer exists and won't be able to come back.
How common is "extinction"?
Word extinction is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
noun
The action of making or becoming extinct; annihilation.
Real examples of "extinction" in context
