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

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

A 71-year-old woman has said she feels "absolutely sick" after being told she would be evicted from her home on the estate where the BBC sitcom Ghosts was filmed.

Read more on BBC

“You’ve heard it from Andrew Cuomo, that the No. 1 crisis in this city—the housing crisis—the answer is to evict my wife and I,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Although county education officials could act independently to renew the charter, the L.A. school board decision still means Gabriella would be essentially evicted from the campus and the dance studios built for its use.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tenants who can prove they are affected by the ongoing state of emergency cannot be evicted for unpaid rent under eviction moratoriums, but they still owe back rent once the moratorium expires.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"This is a time for grieving," said Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to evict the three siblings in the past.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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