ejection
ih-JEK-shuhn
/ɪˈdʒɛkʃən/
The action of forcing someone to leave a place, game, or competition; expulsion.
Implies a sudden, authoritative removal of a person due to severe misconduct or repeated infractions.
The story behind the word. The word is built from the Latin prefix 'ex-' (out) and the verb 'jacere' (to throw). It is the exact same root that gives us 'projectile' and 'trajectory'—literally meaning to throw someone out of the game.
Word relationships
- expulsion: Expulsion is often used for long-term removal from an institution like a school, while ejection is typically a physical, immediate removal from an event or venue.
- dismissal: Dismissal is a polite or administrative term for being sent away or fired, whereas ejection is more forceful.
- admission: Admission is the act of allowing someone to enter a place or event.
- inclusion: Inclusion is the act of keeping someone as part of a group or activity.
Commonly confused with
- injection: An injection is the act of forcing a fluid into the body, while an ejection is forcing someone or something out.
Word family
- eject (verb): To force or throw something or someone out.
Collocations
- immediate ejection
- face ejection
- order an ejection
Example sentences
- "The player's aggressive argument with the referee resulted in his immediate ejection from the court." Basketball game incident
- "Security personnel handled the ejection of the rowdy fan who had run onto the field." Stadium crowd control
Memory hook
Think of an 'ejector seat' in a jet—it throws you out immediately when things go wrong. Thrown out like an ejector seat.
When not to use
Do not use for voluntary departures or standard substitutions of players.
Fun facts
- In Major League Baseball, managers are ejected far more often than players, frequently using the dramatic argument as a tactic to fire up their team.
Related words
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