excavation
Americannoun
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a hole or cavity made by excavating.
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the act of excavating.
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an area in which excavating has been done or is in progress, as an archaeological site.
Related Words
See hole.
Other Word Forms
- excavational adjective
- nonexcavation noun
- reexcavation noun
Etymology
Origin of excavation
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin excavātiōn- (stem of excavātiō ) “a hollowing.” See excavate, -ion
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.
According to Jean-Paul Raynal, who co-directed the program during the key excavation period, repeated changes in sea level, wind-driven sedimentation, and rapid cementation of coastal sands created ideal conditions for preserving fossils and archaeological evidence.
From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026
Now comes a second neo-noir that has us primed for an epic excavation beneath the foundations on which the industry stands.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
“Zed is singular because he’s the most completely preserved,” said Emily Lindsey, associate curator and excavation site director.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
A follow-up excavation will be led by Cardiff University and the Portable Antiquities Scheme in the coming months.
From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026
They watched as the turtle selected her spot and positioned herself for the night’s excavation.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
