extinction

noun

ex·​tinc·​tion ik-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən How to pronounce extinction (audio)
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
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
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.

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 For the first time, scientists have photographed a large, elusive rat that’s on the brink of extinction. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 In fact, humans may have been responsible for the sluggish animal’s ultimate extinction. Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2023 The executive order also contains some provisions that will please the A.I. ethics crowd — a group of activists and researchers who worry about near-term harms from A.I., such as bias and discrimination, and who think that long-term fears of A.I. extinction are overblown. Kevin Roose, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2023 All of the above? Modeling these impacts, combined with data on the pattern of extinctions, has led to various opinions on what proved decisive regarding the extermination of so many species. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 31 Oct. 2023 And now these miniature Key deer are protected, having been saved from the brink of extinction. Tracey Minkin, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2023 Dismissing the extinction of species as no big deal merely demonstrates human narrow-mindedness and ignorance about our impact on the world. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023 This puts the species at risk of extinction, because without males, the endangered reptiles can’t reproduce. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Nov. 2023 Populations were wiped to the brink of extinction prior to the 20th century as they were hunted for their coats, which is the second-thickest in the animal kingdom. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2023 See More

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

Dictionary Entries Near extinction

Cite this Entry

“Extinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extinction. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

extinction

noun
ex·​tinc·​tion ik-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən How to pronounce extinction (audio)
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 How to pronounce extinction (audio)
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

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