defenestration

[ dee-fen-uh-strey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of throwing a person or thing out of a window:

   The defenestration of the Catholic commissioners in Prague precipitated the Thirty Years’ War.

2. the act of suddenly removing someone from an important position or office:

   When the new corporate board was voted in, there was a massive defenestration of high-level executives.

defenestration

/ diːˌfɛnɪˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of throwing someone out of a window

Word History and Origins

Origin of defenestration¹

First recorded in 1610–20; de- + Latin fenestr(a) “window” + -ation

Word History and Origins

Origin of defenestration¹

C17: from New Latin dēfenestrātiō, from Latin de- + fenestra window

Example Sentences

Geddie, for his part, fought his defenestration but ultimately accepted defeat.

From The Daily Beast

In this part of the Hradcany, also, is the old council chamber, the scene of the famous defenestration of 1618.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the stormy meetings of the Bohemian nobles that preceded the defenestration of 1618 were held here.

From Project Gutenberg

A tablet stating that the defenestration had been planned here was placed on this house, but almost immediately removed.

From Project Gutenberg

The defenestration, in fact, only precipitated a conflict that was in any case inevitable.

From Project Gutenberg

Slavata immediately resolved on refuting this work, written by the originator of the defenestration.

From Project Gutenberg