desertification

noun

de·​sert·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion di-ˌzər-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce desertification (audio)
: the process of becoming desert (as from land mismanagement or climate change)
desertify transitive verb

Examples of desertification in a Sentence

The organization was awarded for its efforts to prevent further desertification in Africa.
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.
Helmy Abouleish Helmy Abouleish leads Sekem, an Egyptian nonprofit that helps farmers switch to sustainable agriculture to combat desertification and build more resilient food systems. Eduardo Garcia, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 In the decades since, more advanced simulations show how a warming planet could trigger all sorts of calamities, from heat waves and superstorms to desertification and ecosystem collapse. Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 The trend is also likely to cause further desertification of areas already suffering from insufficient rainfall. Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 28 July 2025 For Thiam, fonio was a delicious food that had been buried under the blanket erasure of colonialism, desertification, and a depletion of economic opportunities for locals. Osayi Endolyn, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for desertification

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desertification was in 1972

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Cite this Entry

“Desertification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desertification. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on desertification

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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