Meaning & use
demolition
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The deliberate knocking down of a building or other large structure, usually so that the land can be reused.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: demolition began on Monday. It is often followed by of: the demolition of the stadium.
Patterns
- the demolition of something
- demolition work
The demolition of the old factory took six weeks.
Neighbors were warned about the noise from the demolition next door.
The council has approved demolition of the unsafe tower block.
nouncountable or uncountablefigurative
The complete destruction of an idea, argument, reputation or opponent.
Grammar: Often figurative and followed by of: the demolition of his argument.
Patterns
- the demolition of someone's argument
The lawyer's demolition of the witness's story left the jury unconvinced.
The review was a total demolition of the director's latest film.
Their demolition of the visiting team ended 6-0.
Word forms
| plural | demolitions |
|---|
Common combinations
- demolition crew
- The demolition crew arrived at dawn with heavy machinery.
- demolition site
- Children must stay away from the demolition site.
- demolition order
- The city issued a demolition order for the cracked bridge.
- controlled demolition
- A controlled demolition brought the chimney down safely.
- scheduled for demolition
- The cinema is scheduled for demolition next spring.
Synonyms and how they differ
- destruction
- Destruction is broader and can be accidental or natural, while demolition is planned and carried out on purpose.
- razing
- Razing stresses leveling a structure to the ground and sounds more dramatic or literary than demolition.
- dismantling
- Dismantling means taking something apart piece by piece, whereas demolition usually means knocking it down.
- wrecking
- Wrecking is a rougher word that often implies damage or ruin, not careful planning.
Opposites
Word family
- demolish verb
- to knock down a building, or to destroy an argument
- demolisher noun
- a person or machine that demolishes
- demolitions noun
- plural form, as in a demolitions expert
Commonly confused: demolition or destruction?
demolition vs destruction
Destruction can happen by accident, in war or by a storm. Demolition is deliberate and controlled, usually for a building.
Practice
The old hospital was scheduled for ____ after engineers found it unsafe.
Choose one answer.
An unsafe building that will be knocked down is scheduled for demolition. Restoration would mean repairing it, which does not fit the unsafe finding as well.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “demolition”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.