debris

noun

de·​bris də-ˈbrē 

dā-ˈbrē, 

ˈdā-ˌbrē

British usually ˈde-(ˌ)brē

plural debris də-ˈbrēz 

dā-ˈbrēz, 

ˈdā-ˌbrēz

British usually ˈde-(ˌ)brēz

1

: the remains of something broken down or destroyed

digging through the storm's debris in search of survivors

sifted through the debris of her broken marriage

2

geology : an accumulation of fragments of rock

3

: something discarded : rubbish

picking up debris after the parade

Synonyms of debris

• garbage
• trash
• dust
• rubbish
• junk
• rubble
• litter
• sewage
• truck

Examples of debris in a Sentence

After the earthquake, rescuers began digging through the debris in search of survivors.

Everything was covered by dust and debris.

Recent Examples on the Web

Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026

More than three months after a fire destroyed more than a dozen businesses in a shopping center in Colorado's Nederland community, many residents are still pushing for the debris to be cleaned up. —Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026

If your plants were plagued by pests or diseases during the growing season, leaving diseased plant debris in your garden allows problems to overwinter and reinfect your plants in spring. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026

Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. —Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French débris, from Middle French, from debriser to break to pieces, from Old French debrisier, from de- + brisier to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish brisid he breaks; perhaps akin to Latin fricare to rub — more at friction

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for debris

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

debris

noun

de·​bris də-ˈbrē 

dā-;

ˈdā-ˌbrē

plural debris -ˈbrēz 

-ˌbrēz

1

: the remains of something broken down or destroyed : ruins

2

: an accumulation of fragments of rock

3

: something discarded : rubbish

Medical Definition

debris

noun

de·​bris

də-ˈbrē, dā-ˈ, ˈdā-ˌ, British usually ˈdeb-(ˌ)rē

plural debris

: organic waste from dead or damaged tissue

a wound obscured by blood and debris

—Emergency Medicine