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

In the Western Conference, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team this season to record 40 wins with a 128-92 demolition of the Orlando Magic.

From Barron's

The pair quickly obtained demolition permits from the Department of Building and Safety, but once their plans became public, an outcry erupted.

From Los Angeles Times

Residents say the demolitions began two days before Christmas, when excavation teams accompanied by armed police moved into sections of the waterfront settlement facing the Atlantic Ocean.

From BBC

Following the demolition, Cowlin said there had been incidents of people claiming they were her gardener, or even her grandchildren, and pinching things.

From BBC

The demolition provoked the worst religious violence in India for many decades - it was, he said years later, the "gravest setback" to secularism since the country's independence from Britain in 1947.

From BBC

Related Words

• annihilation
• explosion