What does extradition mean?
Extradition is the formal legal process by which one country or jurisdiction hands over a person who has been accused or convicted of a crime to another jurisdiction that seeks to try or punish them. It is governed in most cases by bilateral or multilateral treaties that specify which offences qualify and what safeguards apply. The word appears most often in legal documents, court proceedings, and journalism about international crime and diplomacy. Because it sits at the intersection of law and sovereignty, extradition is often contested: governments may refuse requests on grounds ranging from political motivation to fears of unfair trial or the death penalty. High-profile cases involving fugitives, financial fraud, and cybercrime keep the term in regular public use. Understanding extradition is essential for following international news, as it captures both a precise legal mechanism and the broader tensions between national independence and cross-border justice.
nounThe formal process by which one state or country surrenders a person accused or convicted of a crime to another jurisdiction where the crime was allegedly committed, typically under the terms of an extradition treaty.
- The legal process by which one jurisdiction surrenders an accused or convicted person to another jurisdiction for trial or punishment, usually governed by treaty.
"The fugitive fought extradition for two years before being returned to France to stand trial."
"Under the 1979 treaty, the United States formally requested the extradition of the alleged fraudster from Spain."
"The court denied the extradition on humanitarian grounds, citing prison conditions in the requesting country."
Rarely pluralised; the plural typically refers to multiple individual instances of the process, e.g. in statistics or diplomatic reporting.
"The report recorded forty extraditions carried out during the fiscal year."
The word 'extradition' literally means 'handing over from outside' — and some countries, like France, refuse to extradite their own citizens no matter what they're accused of abroad.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of extradition
Extradition derives from French 'extradition', formed from Latin 'ex-' ('out') and 'traditio' ('a handing over'), from the verb 'tradere' ('to hand over or deliver up'). The term entered English usage in the mid-nineteenth century as international extradition treaties became widespread. It shares its Latin root 'tradere' with words such as 'tradition', 'traitor', 'treason', and 'betray', all of which involve ideas of handing over, delivering, or transferring.
Related word forms
How extradition is actually used
A formal, chiefly legal and journalistic term used in international law contexts. It carries neutral connotations but frequently appears in news coverage of crime, politics, and diplomacy, where it can be contentious — states sometimes refuse extradition for political offences, dual citizenship, or concerns about fair trial or capital punishment.
Easily confused with extradition
Extraction means removal or withdrawal of something; extradition is specifically the legal surrender of a criminal suspect between jurisdictions.
Extradite is the verb meaning to carry out the surrender of a suspect, while extradition is the noun naming the process itself.