decommission

verb

de·​com·​mis·​sion ˌdē-kə-ˈmi-shən 

decommissioned; decommissioning; decommissions

transitive verb

: to remove (something, such as a ship or a nuclear power plant) from service

Examples of decommission in a Sentence

Several military bases are scheduled to be decommissioned.

The government is decommissioning the nuclear power plant.

Recent Examples on the Web

The water had been turned off in 2008, after the school had been decommissioned. — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

Here’s what its sprawling cast has been up to since the station was decommissioned. — Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026

One of London’s most recognisable landmarks, the former power station was decommissioned in 1983 and reopened to the public in 2022 following an eight-year restoration. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

The diplomat close to the talks said the negotiations were making progress toward a road map that would decommission all heavy and light weapons in Gaza. — Reuters, NBC news, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for decommission

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

decommission

verb

de·​com·​mis·​sion ˌdē-kə-ˈmish-ən 

: to remove (as a ship) from use or service