Word
demolition
Phoneticsde·mo·li·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌdɛməˈɫɪʃən/
UK/dˌɛməlˈɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the act of completely destroying a building or other large structure. You usually see this when old houses are knocked down to make space for new ones.
n. the act of deliberately destroying a structure, typically a building. Often involves the use of heavy machinery or explosives to clear a site for redevelopment.
Examples
“The demolition of the old factory starts tomorrow morning.”
“City officials approved the demolition of the derelict warehouse to make room for a new public park.”
“While the demolition of the historic theater sparked public outcry, the structural engineers maintained that the foundation was too compromised to support any modern renovation efforts.”
Examples
simple
“The demolition of the old factory starts tomorrow morning.”
contextual
“City officials approved the demolition of the derelict warehouse to make room for a new public park.”
complex
“While the demolition of the historic theater sparked public outcry, the structural engineers maintained that the foundation was too compromised to support any modern renovation efforts.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to a specific instance or event.
Real-World Examples
“Abu Amra reported that the Israeli army carried out two demolition operations in Deir el-Balah, with explosions heard from a distance as the targeted houses collapsed into rubble.” “Despite a reduction in fighting following the June agreements, Israeli strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon have continued.” Etymology
From Old French demolition, from Latin dēmōlītiō (“a tearing down”). Equivalent to demolish + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/demolition