What does eviction mean?
Eviction refers to the legal process by which a person is compelled to leave a property they occupy, most commonly a tenant removed by a landlord for reasons such as non-payment of rent, breach of lease terms, or the owner's need to reclaim the premises. The term extends beyond housing to describe the forced removal of anyone from a building or land, such as squatters or protesters. Because it usually involves loss of home, eviction carries strong emotional and social weight: it is associated with housing instability, poverty, and legal conflict, and features prominently in debates about tenants' rights and homelessness. The word functions as both a countable noun (an individual case) and an uncountable one (the general practice). Related terms include 'eviction notice', the formal written warning that begins the process, and 'wrongful' or 'unlawful' eviction, describing removals carried out without proper legal authority.
nounThe action of legally expelling someone from a property, especially a tenant who fails to pay rent or violates the terms of their lease. More broadly, the act of forcing someone out of a place.
- The legal process of removing a tenant from rented property.
- The expulsion of someone from any premises or place.
"The landlord initiated eviction proceedings after three months of unpaid rent."
"The family received an eviction notice after falling behind on rent during the pandemic."
"The security guards carried out the eviction of protesters from the building early that morning."
Used when counting individual instances of removal from properties.
"The city saw a record number of evictions following the end of the rental moratorium."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eviction
Eviction derives from the Latin verb evincere, meaning 'to conquer, overcome, or prevail against', formed from e- (out) plus vincere (to conquer). It entered English in the 15th–16th century via Anglo-Norman and Old French, initially as a legal term in property law. The same Latin root vincere gives English words like convince, invincible, and vanquish, all carrying a sense of overcoming or defeating.
How eviction is actually used
Eviction carries a formal, often negative connotation, typically associated with housing insecurity and legal proceedings. In British English it is strongly tied to landlord-tenant law; in American English it also appears in discussions of public housing and homelessness policy. It is a countable noun when referring to individual instances ('three evictions last month') but can be used uncountably for the general process.
Easily confused with eviction
Evasion means the act of avoiding or escaping something (like taxes or a question), while eviction is being legally forced out of a property.