What does ejection mean?
Ejection is a noun describing the act of forcing or expelling something out, whether an object, a person, or a substance. It can refer to a physical process — such as the ejection of a spent cartridge from a firearm, or a pilot's ejection from an aircraft via an ejection seat — as well as to institutional actions like the ejection of a spectator from a stadium or a member from a legislative body. The word derives from the Latin ejicere, meaning 'to throw out,' combining ex ('out') with jacere ('to throw'). This root also underlies related terms like inject, reject, and projectile, all sharing the sense of directed motion. Ejection is used across technical, legal, sporting, and general registers, and while it often implies suddenness or force, its tone depends heavily on context: in aviation it suggests a life-saving mechanism, whereas in politics or sports it signals disciplinary consequence.
nounThe act of forcing or throwing something out, typically suddenly and with force; the state of being expelled. It also denotes the dismissal of someone from a place or organization.
- The physical act of forcibly throwing or expelling something out.
- The formal removal or dismissal of a person from a place, position, or organization.
"The referee ordered the ejection of two players after the brawl broke out."
"The pilot's ejection from the aircraft saved her life moments before it crashed."
"His ejection from parliament followed a series of ethics violations."
Used when referring to multiple separate instances of ejection, especially in statistical or technical reporting.
"The airline recorded several emergency ejections during its safety review."
The same Latin root that gives us 'ejection' also powers 'jet' — because a jet engine works by ejecting gas at high speed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ejection
Ejection comes from the Latin ejicere, formed from the prefix ex- ('out') and jacere ('to throw'), giving the literal sense of 'throwing out.' The noun entered English in the early 17th century, initially in legal and philosophical contexts before broadening to physical and mechanical uses. Its cognates include inject, reject, project, and trajectory, all built on the same Latin root jacere.
Related word forms
How ejection is actually used
"Ejection" is common in both everyday and technical registers. In aviation and engineering contexts it often refers to emergency escape systems (as in "ejection seat"); in political, legal, and sporting contexts it carries connotations of authority and consequence rather than violence.
Easily confused with ejection
An ejection forces something outward or out of a space, while an injection forces something inward into a body or system.