extradition
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of extradition
From French, dating back to 1830–40; see origin at ex- 1, tradition
Explanation
A legal word, extradition means sending someone back to the country or state where they've been accused of a crime. Getting countries to agree on the terms of extradition can take years. It can be hard enough for lawyers in the U.S. to agree on a person's extradition from one state to another, so you can imagine how difficult it can be for officials from different countries. Extradition can have real consequences for the person being extradited. Suppose the laws there allow for the death penalty: a person accused of a capital crime would be smart to fight extradition to that place. The Latin prefix ex- means "from, out of," and trāditiōn- means "handing over," so extradition is the handing-over of someone from one jurisdiction to another.
Vocabulary lists containing extradition
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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.
Extradition requests typically drag on for months, sometimes years, as those targeted seek reprieves from Mexican courts.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
The details of the risk assessment by the NCA's National Extradition Unit were not disclosed in court on Thursday.
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026
The additional charges filed later violated an Extradition Treaty between the United States and the Bahamas, they added.
From Seattle Times • May 8, 2023
What’s next: Extradition would allow Mas’ud to stand trial.
From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2022
Extradition, eks-tra-dish′un, n. a delivering up by one government to another of fugitives from justice.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
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.
