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 barge, carrying material from a seawall demolition, included a deckhouse and a construction crane that blocked the view ahead from the tugboat's pilothouse, which should have prompted Insua to have someone else on the boat act as a lookout, prosecutors alleged. —Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026

Ghotmeh’s Stone Garden in Beirut expresses the feeling of a city familiar with the violence of demolition and the excitement of rebirth. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026

This means parts of the White House will remain a demolition site, at least for now. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

Military officials have indicated the demolitions will continue across the border zone. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

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