extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

1

: the act or process of extracting something

2

: ancestry, origin

a family of French extraction

3

: something extracted

Synonyms

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• breeding
• descent
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

Examples of extraction in a Sentence

tooth extractions and other dental procedures

the extraction of teeth by dentists

the extraction of juices from plant matter

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the biggest Sony launches in 2025 (well, allegedly in 2025) is Bungie’s Marathon, a new spin on the extraction shooter genre which does not have any AAA entries at this scale. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

The damaged flight data recorder had been deemed unrecoverable for data extraction by South Korean authorities, who sent it to the United States for analysis at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board laboratory. —Paolo Confino, Fortune Asia, 11 Jan. 2025

Ristretto: This is a type of espresso that uses less water and a shorter extraction, resulting in a thicker brew without as much bitterness. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025

If the sole aim of a company is to profit, extraction and exploitation become the norm as businesses seek new resources to commodify The theory of shareholder wealth maximization has, in recent years, been met with significant scrutiny. —Aissa Dearing, JSTOR Daily, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English extraccioun "removal (of blood, foreign matter from the body), determination (of the root of a number)," borrowed from Late Latin extractiōn-, extractiō "withdrawal, removal," from Latin extrac-, variant stem of extrahere "to pull out, draw forth" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at extract entry 1

Note: Sense 2, attested since William Caxton, is based on Middle French extracion, estration, etc., in this meaning.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing extraction

• dilation and extraction

Kids Definition

extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

1

: the act or process of extracting

2

: the origin of a person

of Italian extraction

Medical Definition

extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

: the act or process of extracting something

extraction of a tooth