demolition

American  

[dem-uh-lish-uhn, dee-muh-] / ˌdɛm əˈlɪʃ ən, ˌdi mə- /

noun

1. an act or instance of demolishing.

2. the state of being demolished; destruction.

3. destruction or demolishment by explosives.

4. demolitions, explosives, especially as used in war.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or working with explosives.

   A demolition squad attempted to blow up the bridge before the enemy captured it.

2. of or relating to tearing down or demolishing.

   Demolition work had begun on the old building.

demolition British  

/ ˌdiː-, ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of demolishing or state of being demolished

2. military

   1. destruction by explosives

   2. ( as modifier )

      a demolition charge

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Other Word Forms

• demolitionist noun
• nondemolition noun

Etymology

Origin of demolition

1540–50; < Latin dēmōlītiōn- (stem of dēmōlītiō ), equivalent to dēmōlīt ( us ) (past participle of dēmōlīrī; demolish ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

"I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock, and it'll happen over a period of four hours -- if we wanted to."

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

The “restart timeline is a stubborn mule,” Raj told MarketWatch, and “repumping the battered energy heart is a multiyear demolition derby, not a weekend DIY.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Four other bombs were found during demolition work on the Carola Bridge last year.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

Like, he’s freestyling right and came up with underwater demolition?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

He divided the men into a five-man demolition party, led by himself, and a five-man covering party, led by Haukelid.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• annihilation
• explosion