defenestration

[ dee-fen-uh-strey-shuhn ]

/ diˌfɛn əˈstreɪ ʃən /

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noun

the act of throwing a person or thing out of a window: The defenestration of the Catholic commissioners in Prague precipitated the Thirty Years’ War.

the act of suddenly removing someone from an important position or office: When the new corporate board was voted in, there was a massive defenestration of high-level executives.

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Origin of defenestration

First recorded in 1610–20; de- + Latin fenestr(a) “window” + -ation

Words nearby defenestration

defendant, defender, defender of the bond, Defender of the Faith, defenestrate, defenestration, defense, defenseman, defense mechanism, defensible, defensive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use defenestration in a sentence

Geddie, for his part, fought his defenestration but ultimately accepted defeat.
The View’s Bloody Backstage Politics: How Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie Lost Control of Their Show|Lloyd Grove|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In this part of the Hradcany, also, is the old council chamber, the scene of the famous defenestration of 1618.
The Story of Prague|Count Francis Ltzow
Many of the stormy meetings of the Bohemian nobles that preceded the defenestration of 1618 were held here.
The Story of Prague|Count Francis Ltzow
A tablet stating that the defenestration had been planned here was placed on this house, but almost immediately removed.
The Story of Prague|Count Francis Ltzow

The defenestration, in fact, only precipitated a conflict that was in any case inevitable.
A History of Bohemian Literature|Count Ltzow
Slavata immediately resolved on refuting this work, written by the originator of the defenestration.
A History of Bohemian Literature|Count Ltzow

British Dictionary definitions for defenestration

defenestration

/ (diːˌfɛnɪˈstreɪʃən) /

noun

the act of throwing someone out of a window

Word Origin for defenestration

C17: from New Latin dēfenestrātiō, from Latin de- + fenestra window

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012