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Showing results for deformation. Search instead for defor-mation.
Synonyms

deformation

American  
[dee-fawr-mey-shuhn, def-er-] / ˌdi fɔrˈmeɪ ʃən, ˌdɛf ər- /

noun

  1. the act of deforming; distortion; disfigurement.

  2. the result of deforming; change of form, especially for the worse.

  3. an altered form.

  4. Geology, Mechanics. a change in the shape or dimensions of a body, resulting from stress; strain.


deformation British  
/ ˌdiːfɔːˈmeɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of deforming; distortion

  2. the result of deforming; a change in form, esp for the worse

  3. a change in the dimensions of an object resulting from a stress

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of deformation

1400–50; late Middle English deformacioun < Latin dēfōrmātiōn- (stem of dēfōrmātiō ), equivalent to dēfōrmāt ( us ) (past participle of dēfōrmāre; see deform 1) + -iōn- -ion

Vocabulary lists containing deformation

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.

His approach relied on tensors, mathematical objects commonly used to describe quantities such as stress and deformation.

From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026

However, a more likely explanation is that intense deformation occurs as the slabs sink and interact with the core-mantle boundary.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

"For bridges specifically, MT-InSAR allows for more frequent deformation measurements across the entire infrastructure network, unlike traditional inspections, which typically occur only a few times per year and require personnel on the ground."

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

"These notches in the wheels and the deformation observed in the track are compatible with the fact that the track was cracked," it wrote in what it called a "working hypothesis".

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

Like Brugman, Swanson, and Johnston, CVO scientists also monitor active volcanoes through ground deformation, seismic activity, and gas emissions.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

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