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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

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.

See Examples For:

Critical raw materials are used in a tank's gun barrel to help resist deformation during repeated firing.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 17, 2026

They also installed advanced sensors that can detect movement up to one-billionth of a meter by using fiber optic cables that can extend or compress if any ground deformation occurs.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 14, 2026

Some sites have seen well deformation and hydraulic failures.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 13, 2026

Scientists had long suspected a connection between deep mantle deformation and these buried slabs, but this research provides the first global view.

From Science Daily Apr. 23, 2026

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

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