ecocide

noun

eco·​cide ˈē-kə-ˌsīd How to pronounce ecocide (audio)
ˈe-,
-(ˌ)kō-
: the destruction of large areas of the natural environment as a consequence of human activity
ecocidal
ˌē-kə-ˈsī-dᵊl How to pronounce ecocide (audio)
ˌe-
-(ˌ)kō-
adjective

Examples of ecocide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature called for the immediate suspension of the project in March 2023, alleging crimes of ecocide and ethnocide. Laura Sanders, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Dec. 2023 Prosecute war criminals and agents of corporate ecocide. Evan Minsker, Pitchfork, 5 Oct. 2023 Our newsletter helps readers understand that ecocide is a two-sided issue, and that our side is correct. Dennard Dayle, The New Yorker, 20 July 2023 The fact that ecocide would not just apply in conflicts could be an obstacle, Weir said. Radina Gigova, CNN, 2 July 2023 Ukraine has begun criminal proceedings under the charge of ecocide against the perpetrators of the dam collapse. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 9 June 2023 The theory evolved into a dominant narrative that the Rapanui committed ecocide and found themselves on an uninhabitable island, ultimately turning on each other through tribal warfare. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2022 While 10 nations have domestic laws criminalizing ecocide, only one of which — France — is a Western country, there’s currently no international law that bans the practice in peacetime. Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023 The finale is a dystopian courtroom drama, putting a billionaire on trial for his crimes of ecocide, but the story lacks the narrative snap and structure of a good legal drama. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ecocide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

eco- + -cide

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ecocide was in 1969

Dictionary Entries Near ecocide

Cite this Entry

“Ecocide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecocide. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!