debris

noun

de·​bris də-ˈbrē How to pronounce debris (audio)
dā-ˈbrē,
ˈdā-ˌbrē,
 British usually  ˈde-(ˌ)brē
plural debris də-ˈbrēz How to pronounce debris (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Chavez's action on that night left the crowd at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, showering the ring with debris. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 After 9/11, undocumented immigrants were tasked with cleaning up the debris of the World Trade Center, as Karla Cornejo Villavicencio showed in her book The Undocumented Americans. Literary Hub, 26 June 2025 The palette is a unique blend of pink, tan, and hints of blue-green that add a subtle amount of color while still hiding dirt and debris. Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 26 June 2025 Fireballs can be seen when ancient pieces of solar system debris with diameters ranging from millimeters to meters slam into Earth's atmosphere, burning up in a fiery display of cosmic pyrotechnics that can easily outshine the brightest planets in the night sky. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for debris

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of debris was in 1708

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Debris.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debris. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

debris

noun
de·​bris də-ˈbrē How to pronounce debris (audio)
dā-;
ˈdā-ˌbrē
plural debris -ˈbrēz How to pronounce debris (audio)
-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 debrisEmergency Medicine

More from Merriam-Webster on debris

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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