people or professionals who kill and eliminate pests such as insects, rodents, or other unwanted animals.
From Latin 'exterminare' meaning 'to drive out or destroy,' from 'ex-' (out) + 'terminus' (boundary). Applied to pest control professionals in the early 1900s.
The word literally means 'drive beyond the boundary'—exterminators aren't just killing pests, they're banishing them from human territory. It's a territorial concept disguised as pest management.
Historically male-dominated occupation; term carries masculine default assumption in job titles from mid-20th century pest control industry.
Use 'pest control professionals' or specify 'exterminator' if occupational context is relevant; avoid gendered pronouns in reference.
["pest control professionals","pest control specialists","termite specialists"]
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