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

This real-value erosion means the federal poverty line has overtaken the garnishment floor. —Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

Avoid leaving the solution on your teeth for too long as side effects can include tooth and gum sensitivity, irritated gums, damage to dental implants and crowns, and tooth enamel erosion. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025

Its topical value is self-evident: Few things are more directly relevant to this moment than matters of privacy and its erosion, and Igo’s excavations of the past expose the concerns of our present. —The Atlantic, 15 May 2025

The work would repair a slope with severe erosion damage in an open area between Caminito Bassano East and Hillside Drive. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 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