deforestation

noun

de·​for·​es·​ta·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən 

-ˌfär-

: the action or process of clearing of forests

also : the state of having been cleared of forests

Examples of deforestation in a Sentence

the deforestation of the island

Recent Examples on the Web

Critics are worried about the environmental impact of the deforestation. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025

Separately, a new European Union law that is now set to take effect in December prohibits the sale of products, including coffee, if companies can't show they are not linked to deforestation — a bid to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025

If mass timber becomes popular, won’t that lead to deforestation? —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025

Dwindling population numbers are due to a combination of factors, most notably deforestation from logging and land clearing. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deforestation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

deforestation

noun

de·​for·​es·​ta·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən 

-ˌfär-

: the action or process of clearing an area of forests

also : the state of having been cleared of forests

deforest

(ˈ)dē-ˈfȯr-əst 

-ˈfär-

verb