eviction

American  

[ih-vik-shuhn] / ɪˈvɪk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of forcing a tenant, or sometimes a squatter, to vacate a property (often used attributively).

   A local mother and her two daughters were given a court-ordered eviction, with four days to leave their apartment.

   When the rent got far enough behind, the landlord finally sent the tenants an eviction notice.

2. the act of forcing someone to leave; expulsion.

   He is facing potential eviction from the Senate for failure to pay the costs of his unsuccessful legal battle.

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Usage

What is an eviction moratorium? An eviction moratorium is an order that prohibits, under certain circumstances, landlords and property owners from evicting tenants, typically for not paying rent. In 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order was intended to prevent people from losing a place to stay due to inability to pay rent upon losing income—ultimately to prevent further spread of the virus. The CDC’s moratorium did not release tenants from their requirement to pay rent and did not prohibit eviction for reasons beyond failure to pay rent, such as criminal activity. The first CDC moratorium was issued on September 4, 2020, and was extended multiple times before expiring on July 31, 2021. At the time of its expiration, searches on Dictionary.com for the words eviction and moratorium increased. On August 3, 2021, the CDC issued another eviction moratorium in response to a rise in cases related to the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. The second moratorium was narrower, only applying to counties with significantly high rates of COVID-19 infections. It was set to be in effect until October 3, 2021.

Other Word Forms

• noneviction
  noun

Etymology

Origin of eviction

First recorded in 1450–1500, for an earlier sense; from Latin ēvictiōn-, stem of ēvictiō “recovery of one's property by law,” from ēvincere “to overcome, conquer”; see evict ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

Explanation

An eviction is when a renter or tenant is forced to move out by a property owner. If you don't pay rent for months, you run the risk of eviction. It's most often a landlord who brings an eviction against someone who's renting an apartment or house. In most states, an eviction follows some kind of legal action — the landlord usually has to prove that the tenant hasn't paid rent or isn't following the terms of the lease. The Late Latin root of the word eviction is evictionem, "recovery of property by judicial decision."

Example Sentences

Furthermore, South Africa's Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act means that every eviction has to come with a court order meaning that attempts to move people can get snarled up in the legal system.

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2025

Eviction is a particular risk with unlicensed HMOs, says Roz Spencer from Safer Renting, which helps tenants in disputes with landlords.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2025

Eviction cases across Los Angeles County increased by thousands in 2023 after the expiration of pandemic-era moratoriums early in the year.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2023

The nonprofit Eviction Defense Network launched a “Tenant Empowerment Program,” for tenants who can’t get a lawyer.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2023

“You have your reward for the services you rendered. You have emerged from confinement. Eviction from this preserve is the consequence of prior indiscretions.”

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Related Words

• dispossession
• ejection
• expulsion
• ouster
• removal