demolition

American  

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

noun

• demolitions
  plural

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  

/ ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən, ˌdiː- /

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

Derived Forms

• demolitionist
  noun
• nondemolition
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• demolitions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of demolition

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

Explanation

Demolition is the act of knocking something down or totally destroying it. It's what construction crews do with sledgehammers and wrecking balls. Not for the faint of heart, demolition usually involves explosives, bulldozers and lots of dust and debris. The act of demolishing something could be seen as a good stress reliever though, if plowing through drywall or mowing over shrubbery is your kind of thing. Or perhaps you could join "a demolition crew," hired to send the wrecking ball though buildings big and small.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demolition demolitions

“Luckily, there are no injuries,” she said, adding that heavy equipment crews were on scene early Monday doing some demolition work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

That remaining shop, a Boots Opticians, is set to close later this month ahead of the centre's planned demolition next year.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The sisters’ opposition to the demolition isn’t merely sentimental or mnemonic—a matter of remembrance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

A federal judge ordered Kennedy Center leaders to provide 30 days’ notice before any changes, including demolition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

In 1931 Berkeley president Robert Sproul gave Lawrence this ramshackle campus building, slated for demolition, to house the new 27-inch cyclotron.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Ms. Hazoutte argues that no demolitions should have occurred until the conclusion of a “national inquiry.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

But Lebanon still reports intermittent Israeli strikes and broad demolitions of civilian buildings in southern villages and towns.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

It has registered that in 2026, about 3,800 Palestinians have been displaced due to settler violence, demolitions and evictions - nearly half of them children.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

There are strict rules in California around the purchasing of dynamite, which is generally restricted to licensed professionals working in mining and quarry operations, building demolitions, tunneling projects and specialized industrial activities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

Second Platoon should look for it and fix the location of air vents for the demolitions teams, who would come in directly behind.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

• annihilation
• explosion