deforestation

noun

de·​for·​es·​ta·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən 

-ˌfär-

: the action or process of clearing of forests

also : the state of having been cleared of forests

Examples of deforestation in a Sentence

the deforestation of the island

Recent Examples on the Web

Since early 2025, the March 23 Movement, a rebel group, has seized control of large parts of the park, fueling poaching, deforestation and trafficking. — Elodie Toto, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, there has been a steep decline in deforestation in Latin America and the Caribbean, leaving the two regions almost on a par. — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Agriculture has been setting production and export records while deforestation has fallen. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Mining for these raw materials, often in the Global South, has been linked toair and water pollution, deforestation, human health risks and climate pollution. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deforestation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

deforestation

noun

de·​for·​es·​ta·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən 

-ˌfär-

: the action or process of clearing an area of forests

also : the state of having been cleared of forests

deforest

(ˈ)dē-ˈfȯr-əst 

-ˈfär-

verb