demolition

[ dem-uh-lish-uhn, dee-muh- ]
See synonyms for demolition on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an act or instance of demolishing.

  2. the state of being demolished; destruction.

  1. destruction or demolishment by explosives.

  2. demolitions, explosives, especially as used in war.

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or working with explosives: A demolition squad attempted to blow up the bridge before the enemy captured it.

  2. of or relating to tearing down or demolishing: Demolition work had begun on the old building.

Origin of demolition

1
1540–50; <Latin dēmōlītiōn- (stem of dēmōlītiō), equivalent to dēmōlīt(us) (past participle of dēmōlīrī;see demolish) + -iōn--ion

Other words from demolition

  • dem·o·li·tion·ist, noun
  • non·dem·o·li·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use demolition in a sentence

  • Lafayette has saved Vincennes; and is marching homewards with some dozen of arrested demolitionists.

    The French Revolution | Thomas Carlyle

British Dictionary definitions for demolition

demolition

/ (ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən, ˌdiː-) /


noun
  1. the act of demolishing or state of being demolished

  2. mainly military

    • destruction by explosives

    • (as modifier): a demolition charge

Derived forms of demolition

  • demolitionist, noun, adjective

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