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Definition of deforestation

deforestation

/diːˌfɔːr.əˈsteɪ.ʃən/
de · for · es · ta · tion
Plural:deforestations
•
Adjective:deforested
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deforestation Lexical Profile

deforestation Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The action or process of clearing a wide area of trees, or the state of having been cleared of forests.

Example

"Rapid deforestation in the Amazon basin threatens thousands of plant and animal species."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for deforestation
Antonyms
View all antonyms for deforestation

• Rhymes for deforestation

• Nearby Words

defoliant
defoliate
deforest
deforestation
deforester
deform
deformable

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 19th century from French 'déforestation', formed from the prefix 'dé-' (reversal or removal) and 'forest' (ultimately from Medieval Latin 'foresta', meaning an unenclosed royal wood).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Deforestation. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/deforestation
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