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

Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, points directly at fossil fuel emissions and deforestation as the engines behind the trend. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026

Brazil’s experience shows that government priorities can have a measurable impact on the Amazon, said Cristiane Mazzetti, zero deforestation lead at Greenpeace Brazil. — ABC News, 24 June 2026

In November 2025, the World Bank's first-ever Global Water Monitoring Report estimated the world is losing 324 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually (roughly enough to meet the needs of 280 million people) driven by drought, deforestation and unsustainable land and water management. — Chris Morris, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Their primary threat is habitat loss driven by deforestation for mining and agriculture. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

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