Synonyms

deformation

American

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

noun

the act of deforming; deform; distortion; disfigurement.
the result of deforming; deform; change of form, especially for the worse.
an altered form.
Geology, Mechanics. a change in the shape or dimensions of a body, resulting from stress; strain.

Other Word Forms

deformational adjective
nondeformation noun

Etymology

Origin of deformation

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

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.

Additional observations such as seismic activity, ground deformation, and volcanic gas measurements confirmed the presence of magma beneath the volcano during these alerts.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 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

The claim relates to deformation of the ship's hull, which has required months of remedial work.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025

The deformation to the west of the Three Sisters doesn’t pose a problem right now, and it might not for a very long time to come.

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023