demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌde-mə-ˈli-shən 

ˌdē-mə-

1

: the act of demolishing: such as

a

: destruction in war by means of explosives

b

: controlled destruction of a building or other structure

The old factory is scheduled for demolition next week.

2

demolitions plural : explosives for destruction in war

demolitionist

ˌde-mə-ˈli-sh(ə-)nəst 

ˌdē-mə-

noun

Synonyms of demolition

• destruction
• devastation
• havoc
• extinction
• loss

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

That restaurant closed for demolition as part of Phase 3 of the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project that also led to the end of the Mariner’s Village in early 2026. — Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

The indictment alleged Cacioppo sent invoices to a Rockhurst University employee for demolition and asbestos abatement work that inflated costs or billed for work that was never done. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the demolition of Palestinian villages in the area in response to the killings. — Abeer Salman, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Transform 1012 is advancing through the pre-construction phase, or selective demolition, that began last August. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026

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