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

Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026

One night in January, the Russian military reportedly shot down twenty-five Ukrainian drones over the Rostov region; one civilian was killed, and the debris from a drone crashed into an apartment block, injuring four others. —Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026

While satellites provide many benefits to society, their use comes with challenges, including the growth of space debris, collisions, ground-casualty risks, optical and radio-spectrum pollution, and the alteration of Earth’s upper atmosphere through rocket emissions and reentry ablation. —Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

Straight-line winds blow out from the storm, often laying debris out in a straight line parallel to the direction of the wind. —Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 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