noun
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fragments or remnants of something destroyed or broken; rubble
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a collection of loose material derived from rocks, or an accumulation of animal or vegetable matter
Etymology
Origin of debris
First recorded in 1700–10; from French débris, Middle French debris, derivative of debriser “to break up (into pieces),” Old French debrisier, from de- de- + brisier “to break” ( see bruise)
Explanation
Debris is trash scattered around after a disaster, like shattered glass on the road after a car accident. Debris comes from French for "waste, rubbish." Although debris usually refers to the trash leftover after some kind of explosion or crash, it can also be what's on your floor after hosting a kid's make-your-own pizza party, or what you shouldn't leave at the park after a picnic. Sometimes Mother Nature leaves debris, such as a pile of rocks, or that car on your lawn after the flood recedes. Don't pronounce the "s": debris rhymes with "be free."
Vocabulary lists containing debris
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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"Of Mice and Men"
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 8
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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.
Images from inside the bar after the fire was put out showed blackened tables and stools covered in debris, with bottles still left out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
The Islamic study centre in the coastal city of Cox's Bazar was buried by mud and debris on Wednesday afternoon, sparking frantic search and rescue efforts.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Road debris alone causes over 200,000 crashes in the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The Rota mayor's office later issued the all-clear to residents but told people to be careful of live fallen power lines, unstable buildings, floods, and debris on roads.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
In fact, there was no place for any of the radioactive debris that had been bagged or boxed.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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.
