erosion

American  

[ih-roh-zhuhn] / ɪˈroʊ ʒən /

noun

erosions plural

1. the act or state of eroding; state of being eroded.

2. the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, glaciers, winds, waves, etc.

3. the gradual decline or disintegration of something.

   Each candidate is blaming the other’s party for the erosion of international trade.

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erosion British  

/ ɪˈrəʊʒən /

noun

1. the wearing away of rocks and other deposits on the earth's surface by the action of water, ice, wind, etc

2. the act or process of eroding or the state of being eroded

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erosion Scientific  

/ ĭ-rō′zhən /

1. The gradual wearing away of land surface materials, especially rocks, sediments, and soils, by the action of water, wind, or a glacier. Usually erosion also involves the transport of eroded material from one place to another, as from the top of a mountain to an adjacent valley, or from the upstream portion of a river to the downstream portion.

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erosion Cultural  

1. A type of weathering in which surface soil and rock are worn away through the action of glaciers, water, and wind.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antierosion
  adjective
• erosional
  adjective
• erosive
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• erosions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of erosion

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin ērōsiōn- (stem of ērōsiō ), derivative of ērōdere “to gnaw, eat away”; see origin at erode, -ion

Explanation

The Grand Canyon is a monumental example of erosion—the entire canyon was carved by the flow of the Colorado River, which slowly dug the canyon out of stone over the course of eons. Erosion is the wearing away of sand, soil, or rock by water or wind. But it also has a metaphorical sense. The erosion of standards for behavior in society means that our grandparents would be shocked by what passes for good manners today.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

erosion erosions

Their findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest the gel could repair enamel that has been weakened by mineral loss or erosion, reinforce enamel that is still healthy, and help protect teeth from future damage.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

The “very strong” El Niño of 2015-16 brought “record coastal erosion along many California beaches,” the state Coastal Commission said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

Each picture becomes part of a growing record that scientists will use to monitor how the beach shifts over time, helping them understand the effects of coastal erosion, rising sea levels and climate change.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Environmentalists say the wall will accelerate erosion elsewhere while starving the neighboring salt marsh of sediment, hurting wildlife.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Maybe the tombstone had sunk at the same rate as the erosion, and the body was only a foot away below me—or an inch.

From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel

Twenty-three years later, those first impressions have long since been replaced by lasting erosions.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026

The ongoing Ebola crisis is escalating quickly, already ranked the third largest outbreak in history — and experts say erosions of U.S. health policy have fueled the crisis.

From Salon ● May 30, 2026

In these nations, the patterns were similar – erosions in freedom of speech, open elections, the rule of law, judicial independence, civil society and academic freedom.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2025

Researchers also tracked erosions or indentations in the orcas’ skin and other forms of discoloration.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 28, 2023

My face has not ignored the passage of time, but recorded it with scars, lines, furrows, and erosions.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• corrosion
• decrease
• destruction
• disintegration