eviction
B2Formal, legal, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
The legal process by which a landlord forces a tenant to leave a rented property.
The act of forcing someone to leave a place; the state of being forced out. Used metaphorically (e.g., eviction from a sports league, eviction of thoughts).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly implies a formal, often legal, process of removal against someone's will. Usually refers to people from their homes, but can be extended.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal procedures and terminology around eviction vary, but the core word is identical. In UK contexts, 'Section 21 eviction' is a common term; in US, 'constructive eviction' is a specific legal concept.
Connotations
Universally negative, associated with loss, homelessness, legal conflict, and landlord-tenant disputes.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties due to shared legal systems and social issues.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
eviction of + [tenant/group]eviction from + [property/location]eviction for + [reason]eviction by + [landlord/authority]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to get the eviction notice (figurative: to be fired or forced out of a group)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to legal actions to reclaim commercial property from non-paying or breaching tenants.
Academic
Used in sociology, law, and urban studies to discuss housing policy, poverty, and tenant rights.
Everyday
Used when discussing problems with a landlord or seeing news about people losing their homes.
Technical
A specific legal term with defined procedures, timelines, and grounds (e.g., 'no-fault eviction', 'retaliatory eviction').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council may evict tenants for anti-social behaviour.
- They were evicted last Tuesday.
American English
- The landlord filed to evict them for nonpayment.
- She was evicted from the apartment.
adjective
British English
- The eviction process can be lengthy.
- He received an eviction order.
American English
- They are facing eviction proceedings.
- The eviction notice gave them 30 days.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The family got an eviction letter.
- He is worried about eviction because he lost his job and can't pay the rent.
- The new law aims to protect tenants from unfair evictions by requiring landlords to provide a valid reason.
- The anthropologist analysed the mass evictions as a form of structural violence against the urban poor.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'eVICTion' – the 'vict' sounds like 'victim' or 'convict' – someone being legally forced out.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPACE IS A CONTAINER / REMOVAL IS A LEGAL PROCEDURE. Eviction is the formal, legal 'emptying' of a person-container from a property-container.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'выселение' in all contexts. 'Eviction' is specifically legal/forced. A friendly 'выселение' might be 'moving out'. Avoid direct translation for metaphorical uses.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'eviction' for a mutually agreed end of tenancy (incorrect). Misspelling as 'eviction'. Using it as a verb (the verb is 'evict').
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best describes an 'eviction'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Eviction' is a formal legal process, often involving court orders. 'Being asked to leave' is informal and may not involve legal enforcement.
Primarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically for forcing someone out of any position, group, or place (e.g., 'the eviction of the team from the tournament').
The verb is 'to evict' (e.g., 'The landlord evicted the tenant.').
No, legal eviction requires proper notice (an eviction notice) and often a court order. Instant removal is usually illegal ('illegal lockout').