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 mission lasted 10 years before the satellite was decommissioned, but the derelict satellite is still orbiting the Earth. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026

The facility was decommissioned over years starting in 1975 and shut for about 40 years. — New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026

Italy is seeking deals on submarines and aircraft, and gifting the carrier to Indonesia also saves it the cost of decommissioning the ship. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

Workers assemble and shape straw hats on ancient sewing machines, including a 19th-century Weismann whose twin, now decommissioned, is on display in the public galleries located on the building’s ground floor. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 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