extinction
extinction Lexical Profile
extinction Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The state or process of a biological species, family, or larger taxonomic group ceasing to exist completely.
"Habitat destruction and climate change have pushed many native amphibians to the brink of extinction."
The complete disappearance, termination, or dying out of a tradition, language, custom, or institution.
"Linguists are working urgently to document indigenous dialects that face imminent extinction."
The act of putting out or quenching a fire, light, or intense emotion, or the state of being extinguished.
"The sudden extinction of the streetlamps plunged the entire neighborhood into darkness."
The gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when it is no longer paired with a reinforcement (in behavioral psychology).
"During the experiment, the researchers observed the gradual extinction of the learned behavior once the reward was removed."
• Rhymes for extinction
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 15th century from Latin extinctio ('a quenching or putting out'), from the verb extinguere, formed from ex- ('out') and stinguere ('to quench').