verb
evict
ih-VIKT/ɪˈvɪkt/
To force someone to leave property or housing through legal action.
The landlord gets a court order to evict the tenants.
Etymology
The prefix means “out” or perhaps simply strengthens “conquer.” The legal connection runs through winning property back by judicial means, with the focus shifting to expelling its occupant.
In context
The best legal way to evict a tenant is by bringing a civil court action.
More examples
- State law prevents landlords from evicting tenants without proper notice.
- The family was evicted after months of unpaid rent.
- The building owner is seeking court permission to evict the restaurant.
Forms
evict · evicts · evicted · evicting
eviction noun — The legal removal of someone from property.
Similar words
- dispossess
- Emphasizes loss of possession, not necessarily through legal action.
- expel
- Means forcing out, including from organizations, without requiring legal proceedings.
- remove
- Broadly means taking someone away, without specifying force or legality.