noun
-
The process of wearing away a surface by friction. A rock undergoes abrasion when particles of sand or small pieces of rock are carried across its surface by a glacier, stream, or the wind.
-
A scraped area on the skin or mucous membranes.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of abrasion
1650–60; < Medieval Latin abrāsiōn- (stem of abrāsiō ), equivalent to abrās ( us ) scraped off (past participle of abrādere; see abrade) + -iōn- -ion
Compare meaning
How does abrasion compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An abrasion is a scrape. An abrasion can happen to a person, as in a skinned knee, or to an object, as in what you get when you apply sandpaper to wood. The noun abrasion comes to us from the Latin abradere, which means “scrape away” or “shave off.” Any area that shows evidence of scratching or scraping can be called an abrasion, like that spot on the front bumper of your car from when you cut it too close pulling into the gas station. Abrasion can also mean the process of friction causing scratches, as in: "the abrasion of everyone sliding chairs on the floor left terrible marks."
Vocabulary lists containing abrasion
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
CTE Construction ("Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills,") Vocabulary from Module One
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They bear the abrasion of files handled, claims contested and Jewish allegiance translated from words into work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Sir Geoff's academic work saw him invent the barley abrasion process - which involves deliberately damaging the protective husk of grains to speed up the process of malting.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2025
The fishing practices, including trawling and the use of gill and seine nets, were shown to cause physical pressures such as abrasion, smothering, siltation and total habitat loss.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 20, 2024
An oval abrasion on a French bulldog’s ear was rimmed by crusty discharge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024
The scratch was shallow, but the area surrounding the abrasion was as red and swollen as a chain of kielbasa sausage.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
The animals operated in the high temperatures of La Guaira, exposing themselves to dehydration and abrasions to their fur, something visible on Sisu's neck.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
The skin on both heels and a patch below my right pinkie had worn away, leaving behind angry pink abrasions.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
He also started diligently airbrushing or painting over photographs of the deceased: “I paint out all the abrasions, cuts and bruises, and open the eyes,” he explained, essentially resurrecting a likeness of the victim.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026
Clostebol is an active ingredient in dermatological cream or spray called Trofodermin which is used to treat skin abrasions, cuts and wounds - and readily available over the counter in Italy.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2024
I was so raw from repeated exposure to cruelty that now even the most minor abrasions left a mark.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
