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 of erosion

• corrosion

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

In the 1970s and 80s, dirt bikes buzzed around its fragile landscape, creating erosion and noise. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

But Sportman said more must be done, including draping the area with a tarp to prevent more water from entering the hole, hastening more erosion. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Without this buffer, storm surge and coastal erosion hit harder, which can threaten homes, roads and other infrastructure — and in worse cases, can force communities to relocate. — Laurie Mermet, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

Punctuating the fairly flat state, the Badlands contain rock formations that have resulted from millions of years of deposition and hundreds of thousands of years of erosion. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

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