decomposition
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for decomposition, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The natural biological breakdown of organic matter, such as into compost.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use decomposition
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From de- + composition, mirroring French décomposition.
Full origin of decomposition →Frequently asked questions
What does “decomposition” mean?
The word “decomposition” means the natural biological breakdown of organic matter, such as into compost. In plain terms, the breaking-down of something — organic rot, or, more abstractly, splitting a thing into its parts for analysis.
How do you pronounce “decomposition”?
“Decomposition” is pronounced dee-kom-puh-ZIH-shuhn (/diːˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “decomposition” in a sentence?
Here is “decomposition” used in a sentence: “Decomposition of the leaf litter took several months.”
What part of speech is “decomposition”?
“Decomposition” is a noun.
Where does the word “decomposition” come from?
The word “decomposition” comes from French. From de- + composition, mirroring French décomposition.
Is “decomposition” a common word?
“Decomposition” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “decomposition” have?
“Decomposition” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the natural biological breakdown of organic matter, such as into compost.