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

Paving roads in the Amazon rainforest has long brought deforestation that threatens the people who live there. —ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026

No wolves to inadvertently stop or slow deforestation results in, well, no more trees. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026

Local environmental groups like WALHI say that construction has already caused mangrove deforestation around the Balikpapan Bay. —Niken Sitoningrum, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026

With agribusiness deforestation and fossil-fuel extraction operations advancing from every side, weaving—predominantly women’s labor among the Wichí—has enabled them to build and sustain forms of collectivity. —María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 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