evict

[ ih-vikt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to expel (a person, especially a tenant) from land, a building, etc., by legal process, as for nonpayment of rent.

   Synonyms: dislodge, dispossess, remove, eject

2. to throw or force out, as from a place, organization, or position:

   He was evicted from office by a populist revolution.

3. to recover (property, titles, etc.) by virtue of superior legal title.

evict

/ ɪˈvɪkt /

verb

1. to expel (a tenant) from property by process of law; turn out
2. to recover (property or the title to property) by judicial process or by virtue of a superior title

Derived Forms

• eˈviction, noun
• eˌvicˈtee, noun
• eˈvictor, noun

Other Word Forms

• e·vic·tion noun
• e·vic·tor noun
• re·e·vict verb (used with object)
• un·e·vict·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of evict¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English evicten, from Late Latin ēvictus “having recovered one's property by law,” Latin: past participle of ēvincere “to overcome, conquer, evince,” equivalent to ē- “from, out of; thoroughly” + vic- (past participle stem of vincere “to conquer”) + -tus past participle suffix; evince, e- ¹, victor

Word History and Origins

Origin of evict¹

C15: from Late Latin ēvincere, from Latin: to vanquish utterly, from vincere to conquer

Example Sentences

A former MP, who was the first to be evicted from the current series of Celebrity Big Brother, has told the BBC he was paid "six figures" for taking part in the show.

From BBC

In recent weeks, Los Angeles County Superior Court judges have ordered Flores and two other “Reclaimers” evicted from homes owned by the California Department of Transportation.

From Los Angeles Times

“Too comfy, that’s why we had to evict her,” Kylie said.

From Los Angeles Times

Her neighbors had stated a petition to have them evicted because of him, Delaney said.

From Los Angeles Times

But some locals fear being forced out, accusing landlords of cashing in on a jobs boom by evicting tenants and raising rents to unaffordable levels.

From BBC

Related Words

• chase
• dislodge
• dismiss
• dispossess
• eject
• expel
• force out
• oust
• remove