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

Busch noted that Democrats have consistently pushed against deforestation and suggested that as tariffs remain unpopular, framing them around ethical issues favored by left-leaning politicians could give them a boost, especially ahead of midterm elections. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 8 June 2026

Lula, on track for reelection in October polls, vowed to stem deforestation after logging soared under his rightist predecessor, who sought to curry favor with Brazil’s powerful farming firms. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 1 June 2026

There was a reduction in deforestation in the Colombian Amazon, and the country’s economy is doing well, with inflation under control and good employment levels. —Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026

However, their wild populations are in decline due to human activities like deforestation and the use of pesticides, the aviary says. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 28 May 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