evict

[ih-vikt]

verb (used with object)

1. to expel (a person, especially a tenant) from land, a building, etc., by legal process, as for nonpayment of rent.

   Synonyms: dislodge, dispossess, remove, eject

2. to throw or force out, as from a place, organization, or position.

   He was evicted from office by a populist revolution.

3. to recover (property, titles, etc.) by virtue of superior legal title.

evict

/ ɪˈvɪkt /

verb

1. to expel (a tenant) from property by process of law; turn out

2. to recover (property or the title to property) by judicial process or by virtue of a superior title

Other Word Forms

• eviction noun
• evictor noun
• reevict verb (used with object)
• unevicted adjective
• evictee noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of evict¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English evicten, from Late Latin ēvictus “having recovered one's property by law,” Latin: past participle of ēvincere “to overcome, conquer, evince,” equivalent to ē- “from, out of; thoroughly” + vic- (past participle stem of vincere “to conquer”) + -tus past participle suffix; evince, e- ¹, victor

Word History and Origins

Origin of evict¹

C15: from Late Latin ēvincere, from Latin: to vanquish utterly, from vincere to conquer

Example Sentences

Sadly he climbed out of the barrel, like a hermit crab being evicted from a favorite shell.

Read more on Literature

But with the late Queen's third child stripped of his titles and evicted from the royal residence, what does the future hold for the cottage - and could it even be returned to Wales?

Read more on BBC

Ditto the city’s current rent regulation and a 2019 state law that requires landlords to demonstrate a “just cause” to evict tenants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants for complaining about poor conditions.

Read more on BBC

Landlords also may be more motivated to evict long-term tenants who fall behind on payments, so they can charge market rates to new tenants, said Phillips of UCLA.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chase 
• dislodge 
• dismiss 
• dispossess 
• eject 
• expel 
• force out 
• oust 
• remove