# destruction

/dɪˈstɹəkʃən/ (US) · /dɪstɹˈʌkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/destruction
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the act of destroying

noun · CEFR B2

the act of damaging something so badly that it is completely ruined or no longer exists.

For teachers: the action of causing such severe damage to an object or entity that it ceases to exist or function.

- The sudden flood caused the total destruction of several homes along the river.
- The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage sites during the conflict was condemned by international observers as a war crime.

### 2. the state of being destroyed

noun · CEFR B2

the state of being ruined or the damage left behind after a disaster.

For teachers: the condition of having been destroyed; the physical remains or state of ruin following a destructive event.

- We were shocked by the scale of destruction left behind by the storm.
- Surveying the destruction, the emergency teams realised that the infrastructure would take years to fully rebuild.

### 3. a group of cats

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a special name for a group of wild or homeless cats.

For teachers: a collective noun specifically used for a group of feral cats.

- A destruction of feral cats lived in the old warehouse near the docks.
- The author used the term 'a destruction of cats' to evoke a sense of wildness and disorder in the abandoned city.

Usage: This is a collective noun and is rarely used in everyday conversation.

Teaching tip: This is a 'term of venery' or a poetic collective noun; students should know it exists but use 'group' or 'colony' in normal speech.

## Examples

- The storm caused the total destruction of the old bridge.
- Environmental groups are working hard to prevent the destruction of the rainforest by illegal logging companies.
- The rapid destruction of historical archives during the conflict has left a permanent gap in our understanding of the region's cultural heritage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.