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

Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft is building on his past calls for Mayor Michelle Wu to halt demolition of White Stadium by now pressing Wu to cancel the city’s lease with the for-profit group vying to bring a new pro women’s soccer team there. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 12 Mar. 2025

The demolition of the first section began Feb. 25, with the first two sections of tile replacement completed in early March. —Sharon Kennedy Wynne, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2025

Originally Published: March 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM EDT Most Popular Most Popular CT company’s iconic headquarters targeted for demolition. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025

Westside Assemblyman Tony Simone is to be congratulated for wanting to save the block directly south of Penn Station from demolition for Amtrak’s foolish fantasy to become an unneeded dead-end terminal for NJTransit trains. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for demolition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• deposition

Kids Definition

demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌdem-ə-ˈlish-ən 

ˌdē-mə-

: the act of demolishing

especially : destruction by means of explosives