demolition
Americannoun
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an act or instance of demolishing.
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the state of being demolished; destruction.
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destruction or demolishment by explosives.
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demolitions, explosives, especially as used in war.
adjective
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of, relating to, or working with explosives.
A demolition squad attempted to blow up the bridge before the enemy captured it.
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of or relating to tearing down or demolishing.
Demolition work had begun on the old building.
noun
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the act of demolishing or state of being demolished
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military
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destruction by explosives
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( as modifier )
a demolition charge
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of demolition
1540–50; < Latin dēmōlītiōn- (stem of dēmōlītiō ), equivalent to dēmōlīt ( us ) (past participle of dēmōlīrī; see demolish) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Demolition is the act of knocking something down or totally destroying it. It's what construction crews do with sledgehammers and wrecking balls. Not for the faint of heart, demolition usually involves explosives, bulldozers and lots of dust and debris. The act of demolishing something could be seen as a good stress reliever though, if plowing through drywall or mowing over shrubbery is your kind of thing. Or perhaps you could join "a demolition crew," hired to send the wrecking ball though buildings big and small.
Vocabulary lists containing demolition
Skellig
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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Mid-Air
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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.
During the demolition, she writes, “I received pictures of the destruction step by step from people in DC. I could barely look.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
It said it had been informed by the contractor The Hill Group that checks before demolition did not identify nesting birds within the building that would prevent works from proceeding.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
The council's planning committee had rejected previous proposals for the demolition of the site for apartments.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
As people sent her photos of the East Wing’s demolition, she could “barely look,” she writes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
Peering down through the window frame was the face of Birger Stromsheim, part of the demolition party.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
