demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌde-mə-ˈli-shən 

ˌdē-mə-

1

: the act of demolishing

especially : destruction in war by means of explosives

2

demolitions plural : explosives for destruction in war

demolitionist

ˌde-mə-ˈli-sh(ə-)nəst 

ˌdē-mə-

noun

Synonyms

• annihilation
• decimation
• demolishment
• desolation
• destruction
• devastation
• extermination
• extinction
• havoc
• loss
• mincemeat
• obliteration
• ruin
• ruination
• wastage
• wreckage

Examples of demolition in a Sentence

The old factory is scheduled for demolition next week.

The demolitions should be complete by the end of the year.

Recent Examples on the Web

The city of Detroit issued a demolition permit Dec. 9 for the juvenile facility. —Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2024

Tuesday's release also provides a progress update on work at the mall property; demolition on the mall interior is slated to begin in the first part of 2025. —Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 17 Dec. 2024

About a half mile from the arena on the intersection of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard is the demolition site where a $1.75 billion ballpark for MLB’s Athletics is supposed to be built, though the sticker price has escalated. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 17 Dec. 2024

But as construction work began, starting with the demolition of the 1866 piers earlier this year, some vocal opposition, bolstered by rail startup with ambitious plans to privatize Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor, demanded a halt to their removal. —Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dēmōlītiōn-, dēmōlītiō, from dēmōlīrī "to throw down, pull down, demolish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing demolition

• demolition derby

Kids Definition

demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌdem-ə-ˈlish-ən 

ˌdē-mə-

: the act of demolishing

especially : destruction by means of explosives