evict

verb

i-ˈvikt 

evicted; evicting; evicts

transitive verb

1

a

: to recover (property) from a person by legal process

b

: to put (a tenant) out by legal process

2

: to force out : expel

eviction

i-ˈvik-shən 

noun

evictor

i-ˈvik-tər 

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for evict

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out.

eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

Examples of evict in a Sentence

His landlord has threatened to evict him if he doesn't pay the rent soon.

They were evicted from their apartment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, more people feel the squeeze This year, PACT members’ No. 1 priority were plans to address surging rent prices which have lead to tenants becoming evicted and sometimes, homeless. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024

The measure would restrict the ability of landlords to evict tenants in market-rate units. —Mihir Zaveri, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024

The Jerusalem municipality and a coalition of Israeli lawmakers are seeking to evict the agency from its Jerusalem headquarters — the site of frequent protests in recent months by right-wing Israelis calling for UNRWA’s abolition. —Claire Parker, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024

This bears a striking resemblance to the Indian government’s recent attempts to evict thousands of Muslims along India’s Eastern border and millions of indigenous people from tribal lands. —Siddhant Adlakha, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024

In addition, more than half of transgender women who reported being evicted or denied housing due to their gender identity also reported being homeless for that amount of time. —Nada Hassanein, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024

Overall, 244 migrants will be evicted by the end of the month and the remaining 1,782 will leave throughout the month of April. —Daniella Silva, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2024

Gay and transgender Ugandans have also been evicted from their homes and beaten up by family members — forcing many to flee to neighboring countries like Kenya. —Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Party-throwing squatters evicted from mansion near LeBron James’ Beverly Hills home News Analysis: The Supreme Court has right and far-right wings. —Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin evictus, past participle of evincere, from Latin, to vanquish, win a point — more at evince

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

evict

verb

i-ˈvikt 

: to put (a person) out from property by legal action

eviction

-ˈvik-shən 

noun

evictor

-ˈvik-tər 

noun

Legal Definition

evict

transitive verb

i-ˈvikt 

: to put (a tenant) out of property by force, by virtue of a paramount title, or especially by legal process

Etymology

Medieval Latin evictus, past participle of evincere to recover (property) by legal process, from Latin, to vanquish, regain possession of