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

Decades of toxic air The staggering impacts begin during the extraction of fossil fuels for oil refineries and chemical plants, including a cluster in and around Sarnia, Ontario, at the southern tip of Lake Huron. — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

The lithium extraction system is integrated directly into existing commercial evaporation ponds that process naturally occurring, mineral-rich underground water. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026

Disasters such as this are common where a significant part of the population depends on small-scale extraction mining for livelihood. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

Most enterprise workloads—document processing, classification, customer support, structured data extraction—do not need a generalist genius. — Pawel Rzeszucinski, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 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