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

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• breeding
• descent
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

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

Legacy sites of mining should be prioritized for further extraction such as the Salmon Gold initiative launched by nonprofit RESOLVE in partnership with Apple and Tiffany & Co. to mine and restore degraded legacy sites. —Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025

Qatar has long been accused of flaunting its vast wealth, derived largely from oil extraction, to curry favor on Capitol Hill and in the Ivy League. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 May 2025

Harnessing cow manure waste for nanocellulose extraction and sustainable small-structure manufacturing As the marketing coordinator at Discover Magazine, Stephanie Edwards interacts with readers across Discover's social media channels and writes digital content. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025

The province is known for its vast oil and natural gas reserves, while mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction make up the largest proportion of the province’s economy, according to a government website. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 6 May 2025

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

Medical Definition

extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

: the act or process of extracting something

extraction of a tooth