evacuation

[ ih-vak-yoo-ey-shuhn ]

noun

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

Other Words From

• e·vac·u·a·tive [ih-, vak, -yoo-ey-tiv], adjective
• none·vacu·ation noun
• ree·vacu·ation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of evacuation¹

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

Example Sentences

About 1.9 million people - 90% of Gaza’s population - have fled their homes over the past year, and 79% of the territory is under Israeli-issued evacuation orders, according to the UN.

From BBC

HRW’s report - based on interviews with displaced Palestinians, analysis of Israeli evacuation orders, satellite imagery showing destruction of buildings, and videos and photos of strikes - concludes that there is no plausible imperative military reason to justify the displacement of nearly all of Gaza’s population and that the other conditions for it be lawful have also not been met.

From BBC

The US-based group says the Israeli evacuation orders have been “inconsistent, inaccurate, and frequently not communicated to civilians with enough time”, and that they “did not consider the needs of people with disabilities and others who are unable to leave”.

From BBC

Israeli forces have also “repeatedly struck designated evacuation routes and safe zones”, it adds.

From BBC

On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military carried out at least 10 strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahieh, after issuing evacuation orders for 11 locations.

From BBC

Related Words

• departure
• exodus
• removal
• retreat