extinction
gb/ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/ us/ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
B2
English
~ 9400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
permanent dying out of a species
The complete death of a kind of animal or plant, so that none are left alive in the world.
Usage pattern:
the extinction of [a species/group]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "extinction" with "instinct" because they sound similar, but they are unrelated: "extinction" is about disappearing completely, while "instinct" is a natural behavior. Another mistake is to say *"an extinction of tigers"* for one species; in most cases we say *"the extinction of tigers"* or *"tiger extinction" unless we are talking about several different extinctions.
Synonyms
die-off (Often used in science and news for a large, sudden loss of animals or plants; slightly more informal.)
|
wiping out (More informal and emotional, often stressing that humans caused the extinction.)
Antonyms
survival (Focuses on a species continuing to live instead of disappearing completely.)
Collocations
mass extinction
|risk of extinction
|threat of extinction
|on the brink of extinction
|drive [a species] to extinction
|prevent extinction
Themes
environment
|science
|nature
|climate
|animals
Examples
- Many scientists warn that human activity is causing a new wave of species extinction.
- The extinction of the dodo is often used as a symbol of the impact of humans on wildlife.
- Climate change is pushing some polar bear populations toward extinction.
- Conservation programs aim to prevent the extinction of critically endangered birds.
- The fossil record shows at least five major mass extinction events in Earth's history.
Learner examples
- The extinction of dinosaurs happened millions of years ago.
- Many animals are in danger of extinction because people destroy their homes.
- Zoos sometimes help stop the extinction of rare animals.
Noun
formal
C1
event
2
disappearance of a custom or group
The slow end of a way of life, a language, or a group of people until it does not exist anymore.
Usage pattern:
the extinction of [something abstract]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse this sense with things that normally just "end" or "stop". For example, we usually say *"the end of the meeting"* rather than *"the extinction of the meeting"*. Use "extinction" when something disappears completely and permanently, not just when it finishes.
Synonyms
disappearance (General word; does not always suggest a slow, final ending the way "extinction" does.)
|
dying out (More informal; often used for traditions or languages fading away over time.)
Antonyms
revival (Emphasizes bringing something back into active use after it was close to disappearing.)
Collocations
cultural extinction
|language extinction
|near extinction
|extinction of traditional skills
|extinction of small communities
Themes
society
|culture
|history
|relationships
|education
Examples
- Rapid urbanization has led to the near extinction of many traditional farming practices.
- The extinction of the local language has weakened the community’s cultural identity.
- Some historians argue that digital media may prevent the extinction of minority languages by connecting speakers.
- Without proper funding, the craft faces slow extinction as older artisans retire.
- Museums can help stop the extinction of ancient skills by offering training programs.
Learner examples
- Many small languages are close to extinction.
- Some people fight to stop the extinction of old music and stories.
- The internet may slow the extinction of local cultures.
Noun
technical
C2
event
3
loss of a learned response
In psychology, when a learned action slowly stops happening because it is not rewarded or repeated anymore.
Usage pattern:
the extinction of [a learned/conditioned response]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse psychological "extinction" with everyday "forgetting". In psychology, extinction is about change in learned connections between stimulus and response, not simply losing a memory.
Synonyms
unlearning (Informal and less precise; used in everyday speech rather than scientific writing.)
Antonyms
conditioning (Refers to the process of creating or strengthening a learned response, rather than making it disappear.)
Collocations
fear extinction
|extinction learning
|extinction trial
|extinction phase
|extinction training
Themes
psychology
|science
|education
|health
Examples
- Exposure therapy aims to promote extinction of the patient’s conditioned fear response.
- After several sessions without any reward, extinction of the lever-pressing behavior was observed.
- The study examined how sleep affects the extinction of traumatic memories.
- Spontaneous recovery can occur after extinction, when the response temporarily returns.
- The researchers measured extinction rates across different reinforcement schedules.
Learner examples
- In this experiment, the rat’s behavior went through extinction when food stopped coming.
- Therapy can help with the extinction of fear in people with phobias.
- Extinction happens when a learned action slowly stops because it is not rewarded.
Noun
technical
C2
event
4
reduction of light intensity
In physics, when light or other energy becomes weaker as it moves through air, glass, dust, or another material.
Usage pattern:
the extinction of [light/radiation] in/through [a medium]
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly apply the biological meaning here and think of species dying out. In technical physics texts, "extinction" usually refers to radiation intensity becoming weaker, not to living things.
Synonyms
attenuation (Standard technical term in physics and engineering; not limited to light and often broader than "extinction".)
Antonyms
transmission (Focuses on radiation passing through a medium without being significantly reduced.)
Collocations
light extinction
|optical extinction
|atmospheric extinction
|extinction coefficient
|interstellar extinction
Themes
science
|physics
|astronomy
|space
Examples
- Astronomers must correct for atmospheric extinction when measuring the brightness of stars.
- The extinction coefficient describes how strongly the material absorbs light at a given wavelength.
- Dust in the galaxy causes significant extinction of starlight in the visible range.
- Optical extinction increases as the concentration of particles in the solution rises.
- Interstellar extinction can make distant objects appear both dimmer and redder.
Learner examples
- Fog causes extinction of light from car headlights.
- Scientists measure extinction to understand how much light a gas or liquid blocks.
- In space studies, extinction makes stars look less bright.
Noun
technical
C2
event
5
ending of a right or obligation
In law, when a right, claim, or debt officially ends and does not exist anymore.
Usage pattern:
the extinction of [a right/debt/obligation]
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this legal sense in everyday situations where simpler words like "end" or "finish" are better. Use this meaning mainly in legal or financial writing.
Synonyms
termination (Common in everyday and legal English; slightly broader, can mean ending of many kinds of agreements or situations.)
Antonyms
creation (Refers to bringing a right or obligation into existence, rather than ending it.)
Collocations
extinction of a debt
|extinction of obligations
|extinction of rights
|by extinction
|extinction of the claim
Themes
law
|business
|finance
Examples
- Payment in full results in the extinction of the debtor’s obligations.
- The contract provided for the extinction of all claims after five years.
- Bankruptcy proceedings may lead to the extinction of certain unsecured debts.
- The court ruled that there had been no extinction of the easement despite non-use.
- By operation of law, the merger caused the extinction of the minority shareholders’ rights.
Learner examples
- Full payment can cause the extinction of a debt.
- Some legal rights reach extinction after a time limit.
- The lawyer explained the extinction of the old contract.
Grammar
Dictionary form
extinction
IPA
GB/ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
US/ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
Syllables & stress
ex - tinc - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tinc)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: extinction
- Plural: extinction, extinctions
Word family
Forms
extinctions
noun
Core family
extinct
adjective B1
Related words
extinguish
verb
extinguisher
noun
Expressions
drive [something] to extinction
1/dɹˈaɪv sˈʌmθɪŋ tə ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
cause something to die out
To make a kind of animal, plant, or practice die out completely, often by harmful actions.
Examples
- Illegal hunting could drive these rhinos to extinction within a decade.
- Pollution has already driven several freshwater species to extinction.
- Experts say that losing this wetland will eventually drive the local bird population to extinction.
extinction event
1/ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən ɪvˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
technical
period of many extinctions
A time in Earth’s history when many different kinds of animals and plants die out in a short time.
Examples
- The end-Permian extinction event wiped out most marine species.
- Researchers are debating whether current trends qualify as a human-driven extinction event.
- Fossil evidence suggests several smaller extinction events between the major ones.
extinction-level event
1/ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən lˈɛvəl ɪvˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
catastrophic extinction-causing event
A very large disaster that could make many kinds of life, possibly including humans, die out completely.
Examples
- Some scientists monitor asteroids that could cause an extinction-level event.
- The film imagines an extinction-level event triggered by a supervolcano.
- An extinction-level event would permanently change life on Earth.
face extinction
1/fˈeɪs ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
be threatened with extinction
To be in real danger of dying out completely.
Examples
- Without stronger protections, many insect species could face extinction.
- Small family farms face extinction as large companies take over.
- Linguists are documenting languages that face extinction in the next few decades.
in danger of extinction
1/ˈɪn dˈeɪnd͡ʒɚ əv ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
seriously threatened with extinction
At strong risk of dying out completely.
Examples
- Many shark species are in danger of extinction because of overfishing.
- The program focuses on animals that are in danger of extinction in the wild.
- Cultural festivals like this one are in danger of extinction as young people move away.
mass extinction
1/mˈæs ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
large-scale loss of species
A time when many kinds of animals and plants die out in a short period of Earth’s history.
Examples
- Scientists fear that human activity is driving a sixth mass extinction.
- The asteroid impact is believed to have caused a mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.
- Coral reefs are collapsing, which could trigger a regional mass extinction in the oceans.
on the brink of extinction
1/ˈɔn ðə bɹˈɪŋk əv ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
very close to dying out
Almost extinct; very near the point where no members of a species or group are left.
Examples
- Several amphibian species are on the brink of extinction due to a deadly fungus.
- The rare language is on the brink of extinction, with fewer than twenty fluent speakers.
- Without urgent action, these turtles will be on the brink of extinction within decades.
prevent extinction
1/pɹɪvˈɛnt ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
stop something from dying out
To stop a kind of animal, plant, or group from dying out completely.
Examples
- Protected areas have been created to prevent extinction of the snow leopard.
- International cooperation is needed to prevent extinction of migratory bird species.
- Zoos and breeding programs can help prevent extinction in some cases.
risk of extinction
1/ɹˈɪsk əv ɪkstˈɪŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
chance of becoming extinct
The chance that a kind of animal, plant, or group will die out completely.
Examples
- Climate models show an increased risk of extinction for many polar species.
- Conservationists are working to lower the risk of extinction for these primates.
- Small, isolated populations face a higher risk of extinction.