elimination
Americannoun
-
the act of eliminating.
-
the state of being eliminated.
-
Mathematics. the process of solving a system of simultaneous equations by using various techniques to remove the variables successively.
-
Sports. a game, bout, or match in a tournament in which an individual or team is eliminated from the competition after one defeat.
noun
-
the act of eliminating or the state of being eliminated
-
logic (qualified by the name of an operation) a syntactic rule specifying the conditions under which a formula or statement containing the specified operation may permit the derivation of others that do not contain it
conjunction-elimination
universal elimination
-
chem a type of chemical reaction involving the loss of a simple molecule, such as water or carbon dioxide
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of elimination
Explanation
Elimination is the process of getting rid of something, whether it’s waste, errors, or the competition. Elimination comes from the Latin word limen, which means threshold. The Romans added an “e” to the beginning and created the verb eliminare, which means to banish or to push over the threshold and out the door. If you solve a multiple-choice question on a test using the process of elimination, you rule out the wrong possibilities one by one until you find the right answer.
Vocabulary lists containing elimination
John F. Kennedy's Address to the American People on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
On Your Mark, Get Set, Commence Your Life!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Amigo Brothers" and "Lean on Me"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This legislation repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two rules that reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for workers whose jobs did not pay into Social Security.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026
A report by the Georgia Senate Special Committee on the Elimination of Georgia’s Income Tax says the Jones plan would make the first $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for joint filers tax free in 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026
The woman said she underwent an exam with a nurse, which led to a complaint under the Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA, a federal law that requires mandatory reporting of alleged sexual abuse.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026
Elimination meant the South African club had to settle for a $100,000 appearance fee.
From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025
“Poor Lord Fredrick! The Howling Elimination Program will have to wait awhile longer,” she thought.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
