deforestation

American  

[dee-fawr-uh-stey-shuhn, for-] / ˌdi fɔr əˈsteɪ ʃən, fɒr- /

noun

1. the clearing or severe thinning of a forest or other wooded area, leaving few or no trees.

   Most of the world’s deforestation is happening in Brazil.

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deforestation Scientific  

/ dē-fôr′ĭ-stā′shən /

1. The cutting down and removal of all or most of the trees in a forested area. Deforestation can erode soils, contribute to desertification and the pollution of waterways, and decrease biodiversity through the destruction of habitat.

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deforestation Cultural  

1. The process of destroying a forest and replacing it with something else. The term is used today to refer to the destruction of forests by human beings and their replacement by agricultural systems.

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Discover More

Deforestation is considered to be a main contributor to the greenhouse effect.

Etymology

Origin of deforestation

First recorded in 1870–75; deforest ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Deforestation is the clearing of trees, transforming a wooded area into cleared land. The first step in turning the wilderness into a shopping center is deforestation. You can see the word forest in deforestation. The prefix de- means "remove" and the suffix -ation signals "the act or state of." So deforestation is the act of removing a forest. First, the trees are chopped down, the wood shipped around the world for making products. Then the land is made smooth enough for homes, businesses, or farming. Today, in many places, laws limit the amount of deforestation.

Example Sentences

When their habitats are lost, often through deforestation, primates are prevented from moving freely.

From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026

Restoration efforts over decades have helped degraded forests to recover, but the big change has come from the natural expansion of mangroves in many parts of the world following drops in deforestation.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Paulo has broken news on currency markets and fintechs, while also writing about new ETFs, Treasurys, Brazilian central bank moves, Amazon deforestation and carbon markets.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

It alone accounted for more than half of the deforestation.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

“Illegal deforestation makes it worse. Land that has been cleared for development—cattle grazing, clearing for lumber—increases the likelihood of burning. Another stress.”

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Related Words

• desertification
• erosion
• logging