debris

noun

de·​bris də-ˈbrē 

dā-ˈbrē,

ˈdā-ˌbrē,

 British usually  ˈde-(ˌ)brē

plural debris də-ˈbrēz 

dā-ˈbrēz,

ˈdā-ˌbrēz,

 British usually  ˈde-(ˌ)brēz

1

: the remains of something broken down or destroyed

digging through the storm's debris in search of survivors

sifted through the debris of her broken marriage

2

geology : an accumulation of fragments of rock

3

: something discarded : rubbish

picking up debris after the parade

Synonyms

• chaff
• deadwood
• dreck
• drek
• dross
• dust
• effluvium
• effluvia
• garbage
• junk
• litter
• offal
• offscouring
• raffle
• refuse
• riffraff
• rubbish
• scrap
• spilth
• trash
• truck
• waste

Examples of debris in a Sentence

After the earthquake, rescuers began digging through the debris in search of survivors.

Everything was covered by dust and debris.

Recent Examples on the Web

About 11 million years ago, an asteroid collided with Mars, sending plumes of debris beyond the planet’s atmosphere. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024

Deep water surrounded much of the area, so someone had placed sheets of wood on top of a chain link fence and balanced both on blocks of plastic foam, creating a makeshift barge that could pull piles of debris from shore to shore. Skid loaders crisscrossed the nearby sand. —Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024

The suction is strong enough to pull debris right up. —Shea Simmons, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Every year from September to November, the Earth passes through a broad stream of debris left by comets. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French débris, from Middle French, from debriser to break to pieces, from Old French debrisier, from de- + brisier to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish brisid he breaks; perhaps akin to Latin fricare to rub — more at friction

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

debris

noun

de·​bris də-ˈbrē 

dā-;

ˈdā-ˌbrē

plural debris -ˈbrēz 

-ˌbrēz

1

: the remains of something broken down or destroyed : ruins

2

: an accumulation of fragments of rock

3

: something discarded : rubbish

Medical Definition

debris

noun

de·​bris

də-ˈbrē, dā-ˈ, ˈdā-ˌ, British usually ˈdeb-(ˌ)rē

plural debris

: organic waste from dead or damaged tissue

a wound obscured by blood and debris

—Emergency Medicine