/ ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn; NAmE / noun
[ U ] a situation in which a plant, an animal, a way of life, etc. stops existing :
a tribe threatened with extinction / in danger of extinction
The mountain gorilla is on the verge of extinction .
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin exstinctio(n-) , from exstinguere quench, from ex- out + stinguere quench.