Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of causing something to end or cease to exist, particularly by putting it out: This refers to the action of extinguishing something, such as a fire or light.
   • The process in psychology and biology where a learned behavior or conditioned response diminishes and disappears when the reinforcement is removed: This is a technical use in behavioral science.
   • Complete destruction or annihilation, often of a group or species: This meaning emphasizes total eradication.
   • A reduction in intensity, especially of radiation, due to absorption or scattering: This is a technical use in physics.
   • The state of no longer existing or being active: This is the most common meaning, referring to the permanent disappearance of a species, custom, or phenomenon.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The firefighter was praised for the rapid extinction of the blaze. (Referring to the act of putting out a fire.)
  • In the experiment, the extinction of the conditioned response occurred after several trials without the reward. (Referring to the psychological process.)
  • Scientists debate whether a massive asteroid impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. (Referring to complete annihilation.)
  • Atmospheric extinction must be accounted for when observing distant stars. (Referring to the reduction of radiation.)
  • The dodo bird is a classic example of a species driven to extinction by human activity. (Referring to the state of no longer existing.)
  • The extinction of the volcano means it is no longer a threat to the region. (Referring to something no longer being active.)

Advanced Usage

• "Functional extinction": A state where a species' population is so low it can no longer play its ecological role, even if a few individuals remain.
  • The northern white rhinoceros is considered functionally extinct.
• "Mass extinction": An event where a significant percentage of all life on Earth dies out in a relatively short geological period.
  • The Permian-Triassic event was the most severe mass extinction in history.

Variants and Related Words

• Extinct (adj): No longer in existence; having died out.
  • The Tasmanian tiger is an extinct marsupial.
• Extinguish (verb): To cause (a fire or light) to stop burning or shining; to end or destroy something.
  • Please extinguish all candles before leaving.
• Extinguisher (noun): A device for putting out fires.
  • A fire extinguisher is mounted on the wall.

Synonyms

• Annihilation: Complete destruction.
• Eradication: The complete removal or destruction of something.
• Demise: The end or failure of an institution or idea; a formal term for death.
• Disappearance: The act or fact of ceasing to be visible or existing.

Related Phrases

• "On the brink/verge of extinction": In immediate danger of dying out completely.
  • Conservation efforts aim to save species on the brink of extinction.
• "Face extinction": To be threatened with complete disappearance.
  • Many languages around the world face extinction.

Noun

1. the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning
   • the extinction of the lights
2. a conditioning process in which the reinforcer is removed and a conditioned response becomes independent of the conditioned stimulus
3. complete annihilation
   • they think a meteor cause the extinction of the dinosaurs
4. the reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation
5. no longer in existence
   • the extinction of a species
6. no longer active; extinguished
   • the extinction of the volcano