erosion

noun

ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən How to pronounce erosion (audio)
1
a
: the action or process of eroding
b
: the state of being eroded
2
: an instance or product of erosion
erosional adjective
erosionally adverb

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 As faults and fractures formed in the volcano, lava rose, causing thermal erosion and, ultimately, the collapse of swaths of the volcano. Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 Last weekend’s tempest was the latest of several recent severe storms in the community and across Massachusetts, which also suffered flooding, erosion, and infrastructure damage in January. Michael Casey, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 The erosion of Russia’s equipment and ammunition advantages will matter very little if Ukraine is not resourced to defend itself in 2024. Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 For now, the erosion of time appears to be working in Mr. Trump’s favor, as swing voters base their support on their feelings about the present, not the past. Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 That tactic does not sit well with many Orange County residents, who say that the growing rock wall occupies too much of the shrinking beach and may contribute to the erosion problem. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024 The Bot Dilemma: Eroding Trust And Spreading Misinformation Bots on social media platforms have become a significant contributor to the erosion of public trust in news media. Guy Tytunovich, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Their objections speak to whether builders should have the right to develop along the coast, despite threats from the sea, and how sea level rise and beach erosion are blurring the line between public access rights and private property in some areas. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 The warming of water could also pose a threat to human communities living near the coastal region — as the ice melts and ocean waves grow larger, the coast could see dangerous erosion. Simrin Singh, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of erosion was in 1541

Dictionary Entries Near erosion

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

erosion

noun
ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən How to pronounce erosion (audio)
: the action or process of eroding : the state of being eroded
erosional
-ˈrōzh-nəl How to pronounce erosion (audio)
-ˈrō-zhən-ᵊl
adjective

Medical Definition

erosion

noun
ero·​sion i-ˈrō-zhən How to pronounce erosion (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on erosion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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