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

While half of respondents cited environmental concerns, such as excess water usage and deforestation, 16% of respondents cited pollutants, including air and water contamination, among reasons for their opposition. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 13 July 2026

At a time when the future of cocoa is being tested by climate change, deforestation and persistent poverty, the sector faces a reckoning no single company can answer alone. — Santiago Gowland, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Vélez said the change in government should not erase recent efforts to reduce deforestation, restore ecosystems and strengthen protections for wetlands, paramos and the Amazon. — ABC News, 10 July 2026

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

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