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.
Take rotational grazing, a tool that not only supports rangeland restoration but also enhances soil health — vital for avoiding desertification and landslides. Arturo MacIas Franco, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025 The triple COPs of biodiversity, climate change and desertification— collectively known as the Rio Conventions— held across Colombia, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia in late 2024, championed the merger of traditional knowledge with modern solutions. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 The planet is home to native inhabitants such as the womp rat, the bantha, the sarlacc, and the krayt dragon, creatures that probably wouldn't have survived the desertification process that NASA identified. Tom Brown, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025 The solar panels slow desertification, reduce wind speeds and create shaded areas that preserve moisture. George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024 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 3 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on desertification

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