noun
Common
erosion
ih-ROH-zhuhn
Erosion (noun) means the gradual wearing away of land or rock by water, wind, or ice. Example: “Coastal erosion has claimed several metres of beach in the past decade.”
noun
1
The gradual wearing away of land or rock by water, wind, or ice.
"Coastal erosion has claimed several metres of beach in the past decade."
"Farmers plant trees to reduce soil erosion."
"Heavy rain caused erosion that slowly carved a deep gully into the hillside."
2
The gradual weakening or loss of something over time.
"There has been a slow erosion of workers' rights over the years."
"Constant criticism led to a gradual erosion of her confidence."
"The scandal caused a steady erosion of public trust in the company."
How to use erosion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe slow wearing-away of something, whether physical land or an abstract thing like trust or rights.
Common pairings
soil erosion
coastal erosion
erosion of trust
erosion of rights
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Word forms
- Plural
- erosions
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Coastal _____ has claimed several metres of beach in the past decade.
Etymology
From Latin ērōsiō, "eating away," from ērōdere ("to erode"). First used in English in the 1500s to describe ulcers wearing away tissue, before spreading to geology by the 1700s.
Class of 1500
erosion joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for erosion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for erosion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “erosion” mean?
The word “erosion” means the gradual wearing away of land or rock by water, wind, or ice. In plain terms, the slow wearing-away of something, whether physical land or an abstract thing like trust or rights.
How do you pronounce “erosion”?
“Erosion” is pronounced ih-ROH-zhuhn (/ɪˈɹoʊʒən/ in IPA).
How do you use “erosion” in a sentence?
Here is “erosion” used in a sentence: “Coastal erosion has claimed several metres of beach in the past decade.”
What part of speech is “erosion”?
“Erosion” is a noun.
Where does the word “erosion” come from?
The word “erosion” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Latin. From Latin ērōsiō, "eating away," from ērōdere ("to erode"). First used in English in the 1500s to describe ulcers wearing away tissue, before spreading to geology by the 1700s.
Is “erosion” a common word?
“Erosion” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “erosion” have?
“Erosion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the gradual wearing away of land or rock by water, wind, or ice.
What is the difference between erosion and weathering?
Weathering breaks down rock and land material in place through chemical or physical processes, while erosion involves the actual transport of that broken-down material by water, wind, or ice. The two processes often work together, with weathering preparing material that erosion then carries away.
Can erosion refer to something other than land or rock?
Yes, erosion is commonly used figuratively to describe the gradual weakening or loss of something abstract over time, such as "erosion of trust" or "erosion of rights." This figurative sense draws on the core meaning of gradual wearing away.
What causes erosion?
Erosion is caused primarily by water, wind, and ice gradually wearing away land or rock over time, and it can be intensified by human activity such as deforestation or construction that removes protective vegetation and soil structure.
