decommission

verb

de·​com·​mis·​sion ˌdē-kə-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce decommission (audio)
decommissioned; decommissioning; decommissions

transitive verb

: to remove (something, such as a ship or a nuclear power plant) from service

Examples of decommission in a Sentence

Several military bases are scheduled to be decommissioned. The government is decommissioning the nuclear power plant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Following a few other cable failures, the federal agency decided to begin a plan to decommission the telescope in November 2020. Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 Rather than being decommissioned, these vehicles are finding a new life with the Ukrainian military, who will use them to strengthen their defenses. Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 But that all gets muddied after Venom shows up at Area 51, the site of a giant laboratory that’s about to be decommissioned by the U.S. government. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024 More:After Wisconsin dams failed in a massive storm, 23 could be decommissioned. Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decommission 

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decommission was in 1922

Dictionary Entries Near decommission

Cite this Entry

“Decommission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decommission. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

decommission

verb
de·​com·​mis·​sion ˌdē-kə-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce decommission (audio)
: to remove (as a ship) from use or service

More from Merriam-Webster on decommission

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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