decommission

American  

[dee-kuh-mish-uhn] / ˌdi kəˈmɪʃ ən /

verb (used with object)

1. to remove or retire (a ship, airplane, etc.) from active service.

2. to deactivate; shut down.

   to decommission a nuclear power plant.

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decommission British  

/ ˌdiːkəˈmɪʃən /

verb

1. (tr) to dismantle or remove from service (a nuclear reactor, weapon, ship, etc which is no longer required)

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Etymology

Origin of decommission

First recorded in 1925–30; de- + commission

Example Sentences

Cembalest highlights research undertaken by JPMorgan that scrutinized the costs incurred to the German economy stemming from its decision to decommission its nuclear power plants after the Fukushima incident.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

“Someday, it will be like Ronald Reagan, they decommission them,” Trump said of the plane used by Reagan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

There, the conservation law swiftly came into conflict with a massive project to decommission thousands of septic tanks and replace them with a sewer system.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2025

Responding to an X user's suggestion he that he "cool down" he wrote, "Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon."

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2025

In the middle of his row with Trump, he threatened to decommission the Dragon - but it wasn't long before he was rowing back.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2025