erosion

noun

ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən 

1

a

: the action or process of eroding

b

: the state of being eroded

2

: an instance or product of erosion

erosional

i-ˈrō-zh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

erosionally

i-ˈrō-zh(ə-)nəl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• corrosion

Examples of erosion in a Sentence

Landscapers planted grass to stop the erosion of the hillside.

Centuries of erosion by wind have carved grooves in the rocks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Thin patches of grass and bare spots can be caused by insect damage, fungal spores, heat and drought stress, heavy foot traffic, erosion, pet urine, or poor soil. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025

Other mishaps, including near-misses and runway incursions, have contributed to an erosion of Americans’ confidence about flying. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

There were other potential concerns, such as coastal erosion or the risk of triggering unexploded mines from WWII, but these seem tiny compared to the excavation issue. —Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025

Permafrost - or ground that is frozen year-round - underpins many of these villages and is thawing, leading to rapid erosion and instability. —NPR, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing erosion

• gully erosion

Rhymes for erosion

• corrosion
• explosion
• implosion

Kids Definition

erosion

noun

ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən 

: the action or process of eroding : the state of being eroded

erosional

-ˈrōzh-nəl 

-ˈrō-zhən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

erosion

noun

ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən 

1

a

: the superficial destruction of a surface area of tissue (as mucous membrane) by inflammation, ulceration, or trauma

erosion of the uterine cervix

b

: progressive loss of the hard substance of a tooth

2

: an instance or product of erosion

a circular erosion on the skin