extinction

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The action of making or becoming extinct; annihilation.
2. (countable, uncountable) The absorption or scattering of electromagnetic radiation emitted by astronomical objects by intervening dust and gas before it reaches the observer.
3. (countable, uncountable) The inability to perceive multiple stimuli simultaneously.
4. (countable, uncountable) The fading of a conditioned response over time if it is not reinforced.

Synonyms

destruction

annihilation

quenching

death

💀

extermination

end

🔚

obliteration

extinguishing

extinguishment

eradication

abolition

disappearance

cessation

extinguish

defunctness

dying

dying out

experimental extinction

allaying

nirvana

nonexistence

putting out

remaining

removal

sterilization

sterilize

subsidence

termination

absorbancy

erasement

flame-out

bumwhush

absorbance

attenuation

cancellation

consumption

deletion

demise

die out

discontinuance

discontinuation

dissolution

effacement

elimination

erase

erasure

expiation

interruption

lapse

massacre

Translations

extinction

estinzione

extinción

extinção

extinció

Aussterben

söndürme

imha

Vernichtung

Extinktion

vernietiging

estinguere

spegnimento

disparition

εξάλειψη

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: -

In summary

From late Middle English, borrowed from Latin extinctio (“extinction, annihilation”), from extinguere, past participle extinctus (“to extinguish”); see extinguish.