ejection
C1Formal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The action of forcing or throwing something out; the process of being forced out.
The formal removal or dismissal of a person from a place, position, or organization; (in aviation) the emergency escape of a pilot from an aircraft using an ejector seat.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a forceful, abrupt, or official act of removal. It carries a connotation of authority, violence, or emergency depending on the context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. The contexts of use (e.g., aviation, law, sports) are the same in both varieties.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotations.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties; slightly more common in technical/aviation contexts in US media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ejection from [PLACE/GROUP]ejection of [OBJECT/PERSON]ejection for [REASON]lead to/result in ejectionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “eject button”
- “fear of ejection”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the forced removal of an executive or member from a board.
Academic
Used in physics (e.g., electron ejection) and earth sciences (e.g., volcanic ejection of ash).
Everyday
Most commonly associated with a referee ejecting a player from a sports match.
Technical
Primarily associated with aviation (pilot ejection) and engineering (ejection mechanisms).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The steward had to eject a disruptive passenger from the train at the next station.
- The new software will automatically eject the external drive when it's safe to do so.
American English
- The referee ejected the coach for arguing the call.
- You need to properly eject the USB device before unplugging it.
adverb
British English
- The component was ejected forcefully from the assembly line.
- The pilot was safely ejected clear of the aircraft.
American English
- The player was summarily ejected from the game.
- The tape ejects automatically when recording is finished.
adjective
British English
- The fighter jet is fitted with state-of-the-art ejection seats.
- The ejection mechanism failed during the test.
American English
- The ejection system was activated automatically.
- He pulled the ejection handle after the engine failed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The referee ordered the ejection of the player from the game.
- The DVD ejection button is on the remote.
- His offensive comments led to his immediate ejection from the political party meeting.
- The security system allows for the rapid ejection of unwanted intruders.
- The tribunal's ruling resulted in the ejection of the CEO from the board for gross misconduct.
- Coronal mass ejections from the sun can disrupt satellite communications on Earth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of pressing the EJECT button on a DVD player: it forces the disc OUT. Ejection = the action of forcing something OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/PHYSICAL SPACE IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'ejected from the meeting' implies the meeting is a container from which one is thrown).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'инъекция' (injection). 'Ejection' — это выбрасывание НАРУЖУ, а 'injection' — введение ВНУТРЬ.
- В спортивном контексте 'ejection' — это не просто удаление, а официальное удаление судьёй с поля (дисквалификация на матч).
- В авиации 'ejection' — это катапультирование, а не просто 'выброс'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect spelling: 'ejection' (correct), 'ejeсtion' (incorrect Cyrillic 'с').
- Using 'ejection' for a voluntary departure (it implies force or authority).
- Confusing 'ejection' (noun) with 'to eject' (verb) in sentence structure.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ejection' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Ejection' is the physical or formal act of forcing someone/something out. 'Rejection' is the refusal to accept, agree to, or believe in something (e.g., a proposal, an applicant, an idea).
Typically, no. 'Ejection' implies an external force or authority causing the removal. A voluntary exit would be described as 'leaving', 'resigning', or 'exiting'.
In everyday language, it's most commonly heard in sports broadcasting, referring to a player or coach being officially ordered to leave the game by a referee or umpire.
Both involve forced removal. 'Eviction' is specifically the legal process of forcing a tenant to leave a rented property. 'Ejection' is broader and can be physical (ejected from a bar), political (ejected from a party), or mechanical (ejected from an aircraft).
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