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

After reaching record levels in the 1990s and 2000s, deforestation declined until former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 2019–2022 term, widely criticized for weakening environmental protections. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Archaeologists first identified several in the western Brazilian state of Acre in 1977, when deforestation began to clear parts of the forest. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026

Driven by practices like overgrazing and deforestation alongside climate pressures, this land loss poses a massive ecological and human threat. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Inspired by the Chipko movement, the Appiko movement in Karnataka, led by Pandurang Hegde, also involved nonviolent resistance to deforestation. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 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