eradication

eradication — noun

1. The complete removal of a disease, a pest, or an unwanted practice so that no tr

1.nounC1
Definition

The complete removal of a disease, a pest, or an unwanted practice so that no trace is left anywhere.

Example

The global campaign for the eradication of polio has helped millions of children.

collocation: campaign for the eradication of [disease]

The successful eradication of smallpox showed that countries can work together.

pattern: the eradication of [disease] + verb in subject position

Common collocations
  • complete / total / near eradication
  • eradication of disease / poverty / pests / weeds / corruption
  • campaign / effort / program / plan for the eradication of
  • work / aim / lead toward the eradication of
Synonyms
  • elimination

    Can mean removal from a particular context; 'eradication' implies total, worldwide disappearance

  • extermination

    Stronger emotional tone, usually for pests or groups of living things; 'eradication' is broader and more clinical

  • uprooting

    Less common; suggests pulling out by the roots metaphorically, often for customs or habits

Antonyms
  • preservation

    Keeping something safe from harm or destruction, opposite of removal

  • cultivation

    Fostering growth, opposite of destroying or removing

Grammar Patterns

the eradication of [something harmful]

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'of' + a noun naming something harmful or unwanted (disease, pest, poverty). 'Eradication' implies the total disappearance of the thing from the entire world or system — it is stronger than 'elimination', which may only mean removal from a particular context.

Common Mistakes

The eradication of the stain from my shirt was easy.
Removing the stain from my shirt was easy.
'Eradication' is too strong for everyday cleaning tasks; it implies a large-scale or systemic problem.
The doctor promised the eradication of my cough in three days.
The doctor promised to cure my cough in three days.
'Eradication' usually refers to a disease at the population level, not an individual's temporary illness.

Word family

  • eradicate
    verbC1
  • eradicable
    adjectiveC2
  • eradicator
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe getting rid of something, but they differ in scope and tone. 'Elimination' is the broadest term — it can mean reduction to zero in a specific area ('the elimination of malaria from the island') without implying the whole world. 'Extermination' carries a violent or aggressive tone and is mainly used for pests, weeds, or groups considered harmful ('the extermination of rats'). 'Removal' is the most everyday word and does not imply completeness ('the removal of a tree stump'). 'Extirpation' is a very rare, technical synonym found mostly in biology and medicine; it suggests tearing out by the root. 'Eradication' sits between 'elimination' and 'extermination' in formality — it implies a systematic, complete removal from everywhere, and is especially common in public-health contexts ('the eradication of smallpox') and social-policy discussions ('the eradication of hunger').

elimination ↗exterminationremoval ↗extirpation

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • campaign for the eradication of
  • effort toward the eradication of
  • goal of eradication

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Eradication comes from Latin 'eradicare' — 'ex-' meaning 'out' and 'radix' meaning 'root' — so the original sense was 'to pull up by the roots.' The word passed through French before entering English in the early 1600s, and its meaning expanded from literal uprooting of plants to the figurative removal of diseases, customs, and social problems.