erosion

noun

ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən 

1

a

: the action or process of eroding

b

: the state of being eroded

2

: an instance or product of erosion

erosional

i-ˈrō-zh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

erosionally

i-ˈrō-zh(ə-)nəl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• attrition
• corrosion
• undermining
• waste

Examples of erosion in a Sentence

Landscapers planted grass to stop the erosion of the hillside.

Centuries of erosion by wind have carved grooves in the rocks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tracking coastal erosion and sediment movement: The Navigator provides centimeter-level precision in mapping shorelines, enabling researchers to model erosion patterns and sediment transport more effectively. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Rock revetments, seawalls and other hard structures built on the beach limit public access and can contribute to coastal erosion. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025

Then there’s the erosion of soil, as half of the planet’s topsoil has been lost in the past 150 years. —Richard Knight, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025

Collective action by chief executives in the business world has had a profound impact on blunting unchallenged authoritarian erosion of American democratic institutions. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing erosion

• gully erosion

Rhymes for erosion

• corrosion
• explosion
• implosion

Kids Definition

erosion

noun

ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən 

: the action or process of eroding : the state of being eroded

erosional

-ˈrōzh-nəl 

-ˈrō-zhən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

erosion

noun

ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən 

1

a

: the superficial destruction of a surface area of tissue (as mucous membrane) by inflammation, ulceration, or trauma

erosion of the uterine cervix

b

: progressive loss of the hard substance of a tooth

2

: an instance or product of erosion

a circular erosion on the skin