section eight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Legal/Technical/Informal (military)
Quick answer
What does “section eight” mean?
A specific provision of a law, contract, or document, often referring to a specific numbered clause.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific provision of a law, contract, or document, often referring to a specific numbered clause.
Colloquially, a term for a discharge from the US military on grounds of unsuitability; also a legal procedure for a landlord to seek possession of a property in UK housing law.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'Section 8' commonly refers to a specific notice under the Housing Act 1988 for landlord possession. In US English, it commonly refers to the military discharge or to a specific section of a US law (e.g., Section 8 housing vouchers).
Connotations
UK: Legal procedure, often negative for tenants. US Military: Derogatory, implying failure or mental instability. US Legal: Neutral reference to a clause.
Frequency
In the UK, 'section eight' is frequent in housing/legal contexts. In the US, it is frequent in military/veteran discourse and federal law references.
Grammar
How to Use “section eight” in a Sentence
The landlord served a [section eight] notice.He was given a [section eight] discharge.See [section eight] of the contract.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “section eight” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The landlord decided to section-eight the troublesome tenant.
American English
- The commander threatened to section-eight the recruit.
adjective
British English
- He received a section-eight notice in the post.
American English
- He was a section-eight discharge from the Army.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Please review the terms outlined in section eight of the agreement.
Academic
The experiment's methodology is detailed in section eight of the paper.
Everyday
My landlord is threatening me with a section eight. (UK)
Technical
The tenant breached the lease, grounds for a Section 8 notice under the Housing Act 1988.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “section eight”
- Using 'section eight' as a general synonym for 'part' without the numbered reference.
- Confusing the UK housing and US military usages.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its primary meaning is any numbered section of a document. The housing/military meanings are specific contexts where 'Section 8' is a shorthand for a well-known clause.
Yes, informally, particularly in the US military context (e.g., 'They section-eighted him') and in UK housing circles (e.g., 'He got section-eighted').
A Section 8 notice is used when a tenant has breached the tenancy agreement (e.g., rent arrears). A Section 21 notice is a 'no-fault' eviction, requiring no specific breach.
When referring to a specific, titled section of a law or document (e.g., Section 8 of the Housing Act), it is often capitalised. In general reference ('see section eight'), it is not.
A specific provision of a law, contract, or document, often referring to a specific numbered clause.
Section eight is usually legal/technical/informal (military) in register.
Section eight: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkʃn eɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkʃən eɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to get a section eight (US military slang)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a document SECTIONED into parts, and EIGHT is just one numbered part.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LAW/CONTRACT IS A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE (with numbered sections as rooms or compartments).
Practice
Quiz
In US military slang, 'to get a section eight' means: