evacuation

American

[ih-vak-yoo-ey-shuhn] / ɪˌvæk yuˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

the act or process of evacuating, or the condition of being evacuated; discharge or expulsion, as of contents.
Physiology. discharge, as of waste matter through the excretory passages, especially from the bowels.
something evacuated or discharged.
the removal of persons or things from an endangered area.
clearance by removal of troops, equipment, etc.
the withdrawal or removal of troops, civilians, etc.

Other Word Forms

evacuative adjective
nonevacuation noun
reevacuation noun

Etymology

Origin of evacuation

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

Explanation

An evacuation happens when people are removed from or leave a dangerous place. An approaching hurricane sometimes results in the evacuation of islands and coastal towns. A fire drill or bomb threat can cause the evacuation of a school building, and during World War II there were frequent evacuations of buildings and areas of cities including London, when people hurried into shelters. Another meaning of evacuation is the emptying of something, whether a container or a human body. This relates to the word's original meaning, "discharge of blood from the body," from the Latin evacuare, "to empty."

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Vocabulary lists containing evacuation

Salt to the Sea

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CTE Construction ("Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills,") Vocabulary from Module One

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"Building Design and Construction Handbook," Vocabulary from Section 1

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Evacuation orders are in effect for an area north of Highway 74, south of Ethanac Road and east of El Toro Road, while an evacuation warning is in effect in adjacent areas.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

The area from Van Buren Boulevard and Jurupa Road east to Stone Avenue toward Stone Elementary School and south to Paisano Way and Limonita Avenue is under mandatory evacuation orders.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Tedros also said that the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Health, which "hosts five shelters accommodating more than 5,000 people", is in the evacuation area.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

There was no evacuation order and no announcement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Alyssa is trying to convince Basil to go with Daphne to an evacuation center, but of course, he refuses.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023