corrosion

American  

[kuh-roh-zhuhn] / kəˈroʊ ʒən /

noun

corrosions plural

1. the act or process of corroding; condition of being corroded.

2. a product of corroding, as rust.

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corrosion British  

/ kəˈrəʊʒən /

noun

1. a process in which a solid, esp a metal, is eaten away and changed by a chemical action, as in the oxidation of iron in the presence of water by an electrolytic process

2. slow deterioration by being eaten or worn away

3. the condition produced by or the product of corrosion

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corrosion Scientific  

/ kə-rō′zhən /

1. The breaking down or destruction of a material, especially a metal, through chemical reactions. The most common form of corrosion is rusting, which occurs when iron combines with oxygen and water.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• corrosional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• corrosions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of corrosion

1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Late Latin corrōsiōn- (stem of corrōsiō ) a gnawing away, equivalent to Latin corrōs ( us ), past participle of corrōdere to corrode + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Corrosion is the process by which something deteriorates because of oxidation, a chemical action that creates oxides that flake away from the base. When you see a rusty, shoddy looking car, corrosion is the culprit. Although the word is most often associated with the physical breakdown of a metal through rusting, the erosion of rock by wind and water is a form of corrosion. The word can also be applied to other situations, like the corrosion of a once-strong friendship. There could be corrosion of relations between two countries. Whenever something's being worn down or eaten away, you can call it corrosion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

corrosion corrosions

The defence's main argument is that the bridge had a hidden construction defect, namely corrosion of the bridge's cables, and it was this that caused its collapse, not a lack of maintenance.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

Those additions, coupled with the long-term degradation from corrosion, ultimately caused the collapse four decades after construction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

Local fishermen pulled up two large masses of metal that had become fused together through centuries of marine corrosion after snagging them in their nets.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 8, 2026

The first electric powered train passed through in June 2020 but the tunnel's overhead power system has since suffered corrosion and electrical wear, meaning more frequent maintenance.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

The mechanism of Harrison's chronometer could withstand the turbulent motion of a ship at sea, defy changes of temperature, and resist the corrosion of salt water and air.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Genre-bending authors are often well-suited to making sense of the daily horrors and subtle corrosions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026

Now, for all the corrosions of inflation, food prices and property taxes, money seems a bit looser.

From Time Magazine Archive

All religions have changed and suffered secular corrosions, despite signs of revival in recent years.

From Time Magazine Archive

This indicated that the mucous lining of the stomach had been partially removed by the corrosions of the drug, or that nervous power had suddenly come to a stand-still, which demanded an increase of stimulus.

From The Opium Habit by Day, Horace B.

Post-Mortem Appearances Common to the Mineral Acids.—Stains and corrosions about the mouth, chin, and fingers, or wherever the acid has come in contact.

From Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )

Related Words

• decay
• decomposition
• deterioration
• erosion
• rust