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

City officials say demolition will begin in the fall and that construction of the new bandshell will start by the end of the year. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 June 2026

Doing so would require significant space, and could involve the demolition of residential buildings directly opposite the church. —CNN Money, 8 June 2026

The demolition of McKim Mead and White’s masterpiece unleashed the preservation movement and a multigenerational tide of nostalgia, which should rightly get refracted into any new design. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 June 2026

Still, when those demolition notices went up, Hollywood Heritage sent their landmark nomination to the city — much to Sogoyan’s annoyance. —Max Kutner, HollywoodReporter, 7 June 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