noun
extinction
ihk-STIHNGK-shuhn
noun
1
The complete dying out of a species, group, or way of life.
"Hunting drove the species to extinction."
"Conservationists are working to prevent the tiger's extinction."
How to Use Extinction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe point at which every last member of a species or group has died out.
Common pairings
face extinction
mass extinction
risk of extinction
Word Forms
extinctions plural
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Hunting drove the species to _____.
Etymology
From Latin extinctio, "extinguishing, annihilation", from extinguere.