evacuation

[ih-vak-yoo-ey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of evacuating, or the condition of being evacuated; discharge or expulsion, as of contents.

2. Physiology.,  discharge, as of waste matter through the excretory passages, especially from the bowels.

3. something evacuated or discharged.

4. the removal of persons or things from an endangered area.

5. clearance by removal of troops, equipment, etc.

6. the withdrawal or removal of troops, civilians, etc.

Other Word Forms

• evacuative adjective
• nonevacuation noun
• reevacuation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of evacuation¹

1350–1400; Middle English evacuacioun < Late Latin ēvacuātion- (stem of ēvacuātiō ). See evacuate, -ion

Example Sentences

First: home hardening, defensible space and evacuation planning to ensure that if a monster fire starts, it causes the smallest amount of death and destruction.

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Leaders urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts at NotifyLA.org and to pay close attention to evacuation warnings.

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Calvin’s sister, Evelyn McClendon, died in the fire after she was separated from the rest of the family in the scramble of the January evacuations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A vast blaze has torn through the historic Bernaga Monastery in northern Italy, the Italian fire service said Sunday, forcing the evacuation of 22 cloistered nuns.

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"When the evacuation was announced, people started leaving," Angela said in a quiet voice, fixing her eyes on a heap of plastic bags filled with her possessions.

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Related Words

• departure 
• exodus 
• removal 
• retreat