extinction
noun
ex·tinc·tion
ik-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən 
plural extinctions
1
a
: the act of making extinct or causing to be extinguished
gradual extinction of the national debt
b
: the condition or fact of being extinct
or
: the process of becoming extinct
attempting to save a species from extinction
… at least 17 species of the island's largest mammals, birds, and reptiles were lost in a wave of extinctions that occurred about 1,000 years ago. —
Pamela S. Cubberly
Pamela S. Cubberly Now, more than 40 percent of the world's 7,000 or so languages are thought to be at risk of extinction, some with just a handful of elderly native speakers left. —Benjamin Plackett
see also mass extinction
Benjamin Plackett 2
: the process of eliminating or reducing a conditioned (see conditioned sense 2) response by not reinforcing it
When a rat in a Skinner box presses a lever, a tone sounds momentarily, followed shortly by delivery of food. … After the animal has been conditioned in this way, the experimenter begins extinction, so that when the rat presses the lever neither the tone nor the food appears.—Rita L. Atkinson et al.
Rita L. Atkinson et al.
Synonyms
Examples of extinction in a Sentence
the extinction of all life in the region
the extinction of many old traditions
Mass extinctions of prehistoric animals are known to have occurred.
Recent Examples on the Web
Native to much of California, beavers were hunted to near extinction throughout North America by fur traders in the 1800s.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Some countries are genuinely struggling to manage the success of their conservation, Linnell said, adding that saving a species from extinction is just the beginning.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Those changes came as extinctions accelerate globally due to habitat loss and other pressures.
—Matthew Brown, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The Javan and Bali tigers have been declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the global authority on wildlife extinction risk.
—Reuters, NBC News, 26 Mar. 2024
Milstein added that gray whales were hunted to near extinction during the whaling era, but with the protections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, the animals have recovered to the point where they were removed from endangered species protection in 1994.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
In Hawaii, known as a bird extinction capital of the world, cats are the most devastating predators of wildlife.
—Sachi Mulkey, WIRED, 23 Mar. 2024
The primary purpose is to help save the dwindling population of mountain lions in Southern California from extinction.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024
It's known as the second most devastating extinction in our planet’s history, and some scientists believe, among other factors, that gamma-ray interference might be to blame.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Some countries are genuinely struggling to manage the success of their conservation, Linnell said, adding that saving a species from extinction is just the beginning.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Those changes came as extinctions accelerate globally due to habitat loss and other pressures.
—Matthew Brown, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The Javan and Bali tigers have been declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the global authority on wildlife extinction risk.
—Reuters, NBC News, 26 Mar. 2024
Milstein added that gray whales were hunted to near extinction during the whaling era, but with the protections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, the animals have recovered to the point where they were removed from endangered species protection in 1994.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
In Hawaii, known as a bird extinction capital of the world, cats are the most devastating predators of wildlife.
—Sachi Mulkey, WIRED, 23 Mar. 2024
The primary purpose is to help save the dwindling population of mountain lions in Southern California from extinction.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024
It's known as the second most devastating extinction in our planet’s history, and some scientists believe, among other factors, that gamma-ray interference might be to blame.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extinction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of extinction was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing extinction
Dictionary Entries Near extinction
Cite this Entry
“Extinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extinction. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
extinction
noun
ex·tinc·tion
ik-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən
1
: an act of extinguishing or an instance of being extinguished
2
a
: the state of being extinct
b
: the process of becoming extinct
3
: the process of eliminating or reducing a conditioned response by not providing the stimulus with which it has become associated by conditioning
Medical Definition
extinction
noun
ex·tinc·tion
ik-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən
1
: the process of becoming extinct
the extinction of a species
also
: the condition or fact of being extinct
2
: the process of eliminating or reducing a conditioned response by not reinforcing it
More from Merriam-Webster on extinction
Nglish: Translation of extinction for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of extinction for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about extinction
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