extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

1

: the act or process of extracting something

2

: ancestry, origin

a family of French extraction

3

: something extracted

Synonyms of extraction

• ancestry
• lineage
• origin
• descent
• breeding
• genealogy
• family
• pedigree

Examples of extraction in a Sentence

tooth extractions and other dental procedures

the extraction of teeth by dentists

the extraction of juices from plant matter

Recent Examples on the Web

Gas flaring is the burning of natural gases which result from oil extraction. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Casks are carefully managed to avoid over-extraction, and the whisky is bottled at a robust 50% ABV. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

The supply chain runs mine to crusher to leaching tanks to solvent extraction columns to metal reduction furnaces to sintering presses — each a separate facility, a separate specialized workforce, a separate capital cycle. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026

Speaking in Nairobi last week, French President Emmanuel Macron warned against African ores being extracted on the continent only to be refined elsewhere, arguing that Africa can no longer remain merely a source of resource extraction. —W. Gyude Moore, semafor.com, 25 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English extraccioun "removal (of blood, foreign matter from the body), determination (of the root of a number)," borrowed from Late Latin extractiōn-, extractiō "withdrawal, removal," from Latin extrac-, variant stem of extrahere "to pull out, draw forth" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at extract entry 1

Note: Sense 2, attested since William Caxton, is based on Middle French extracion, estration, etc., in this meaning.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing extraction

• dilation and extraction

Rhymes for extraction

• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• impaction
• inaction
• infraction
• olfaction

Kids Definition

extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

1

: the act or process of extracting

2

: the origin of a person

of Italian extraction

Medical Definition

extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

: the act or process of extracting something

extraction of a tooth