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

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva Host nation Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, affectionately known as Lula, has used his second term as president to push ahead with climate action and slow the deforestation that grew to alarming rates under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. —Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

Dr Michele Menegon, a coauthor and conservationist, warns that ongoing deforestation, mining, and climate change are putting these rare toads at serious risk. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025

In the Amazon, conservationists are spotting deforestation in near real time. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

This would require a dramatic reduction in the use of fossil fuels, alongside other changes, like reducing deforestation. —Sophie Yeo, The Dial, 4 Nov. 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