demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌde-mə-ˈli-shən 

ˌdē-mə-

1

: the act of demolishing: such as

a

: destruction in war by means of explosives

b

: controlled destruction of a building or other structure

The old factory is scheduled for demolition next week.

2

demolitions plural : explosives for destruction in war

demolitionist

ˌde-mə-ˈli-sh(ə-)nəst 

ˌdē-mə-

noun

Synonyms of demolition

• destruction
• devastation
• havoc
• extinction
• loss

Examples of demolition in a Sentence

The old factory is scheduled for demolition next week.

The demolitions should be complete by the end of the year.

Recent Examples on the Web

The nonprofit says the defendants were supposed to submit those plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts and Congress prior to demolition and construction. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

The ear-piercing sounds are instead a result of the ongoing demolition work, according to a White House official. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025

The center had been closed since the early 2000s and once faced the possibility of demolition. —Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 10 Dec. 2025

Foundations Adam Gopnik is right that Trump’s demolition of Roosevelt’s East Wing violates the democratic process (Comment, November 3rd). —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dēmōlītiōn-, dēmōlītiō, from dēmōlīrī "to throw down, pull down, demolish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing demolition

• demolition derby

Rhymes for demolition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• deposition

Kids Definition

demolition

noun

de·​mo·​li·​tion ˌdem-ə-ˈlish-ən 

ˌdē-mə-

: the act of demolishing

especially : destruction by means of explosives