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erection

American  
[ih-rek-shuhn] / ɪˈrɛk ʃən /

noun

  1. the act of erecting.

  2. the state of being erected.

  3. something erected, as a building or other structure.

  4. Physiology. a distended and rigid state of an organ or part containing erectile tissue, especially of the penis or the clitoris.

erection British  
/ ɪˈrɛkʃən /

noun

  1. the act of erecting or the state of being erected

  2. something that has been erected; a building or construction

  3. physiol the enlarged state or condition of erectile tissues or organs, esp the penis, when filled with blood

  4. an erect penis

"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

Other Word Forms

  • nonerection noun
  • preerection noun
  • reerection noun

Etymology

Origin of erection

First recorded in 1495–1505, erection is from the Late Latin word ērēctiōn- (stem of ērēctiō ). See erect, -ion

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.

Mr Walters said he believed it is possible to put cables underground with a cost which "is very similar" to the erection of pylons.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2025

Dr. Sarah Furness, the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, commissioned the statue's erection after the queen's death.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2024

The erection of several wind turbines is viewed by the Golan villagers as an encroachment.

From Reuters • Jun. 21, 2023

The rest of the neighborhood was equally supportive, many enthusiastically underwriting restoration of the columns and erection of the colonnade.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2023

The erection of the Charlevoix church had been an event of great excitement.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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.