Definition of root out

The phrase "root out" is a figurative expression with agricultural origins. It originated in the context of farming, where the verb "to root" describes a plant's ability to grow roots into the soil in search of water and nutrients. The word "out" is a preposition meaning "from a place or source," and together "root out" is a phrasal verb meaning to remove or eliminate something completely, especially something that is deeply entrenched or deeply rooted. The expression gained popularity in its figurative meaning in the mid-19th century when it was used broadly to describe the process of uprooting unwanted vegetation or weeding a garden. It is now commonly used in popular literature and speech to describe the process of removing or destroying something, such as wiping out corruption, eradicating disease, or rooting out threats to national security. In summary, the phrase "root out" is a dynamic example of how agricultural terminology has transitioned into everyday language to convey a range of meanings, from horticultural to metaphorical.