dieback

American  

[dahy-bak] / ˈdaɪˌbæk /

noun

Plant Pathology.

1. a condition in a plant in which the branches or shoots die from the tip inward, caused by any of several bacteria, fungi, or viruses or by certain environmental conditions.

---

dieback British  

/ ˈdaɪˌbæk /

noun

1. a disease of trees and shrubs characterized by death of the young shoots, which spreads to the larger branches: caused by injury to the roots or attack by bacteria or fungi

2. any similar condition of herbaceous plants

---

verb

1. (intr, adverb) (of plants) to suffer from dieback

Etymology

Origin of dieback

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; die ¹ + back ²

Example Sentences

Soon enough, trees everywhere were showing blotchy, mottled, yellowed leaves and suffering from twig dieback and sparse foliage.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Scientists also warned that tipping points in the Amazon were closer than previously thought, and "widespread dieback" and large-scale forest degradation was a risk even below 2C of global warming.

From Barron's • Oct. 12, 2025

Cultural evolution among groups would tend to exacerbate resource competition and could lead to direct conflict between groups and even global human dieback.

From Science Daily • Jan. 2, 2024

"Because of ash dieback and the changes in climate - the crisis that we're facing - we have a very finite amount of time to do something about it," she told BBC News.

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2023

In many cases the subsequent dieback of the twigs may extend only a few inches, but sometimes the injury involves not only the past season's growth but that of three or even four years back.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 41st Annual Meeting Pleasant Valley, New York, August 28, 29 and 30, 1950 by Northern Nut Growers Association