noun

erosion

/ɪˈroʊʒən/ · say it: ih·ROH·zhun

the wearing away of land by wind or water

In Science & Nature

In more detail

1. (noun) the gradual wearing away of rock, soil, or land by wind, water, or ice

2. (noun) the process of becoming gradually destroyed or weakened

Examples

1. Coastal erosion is destroying the beach.
2. There has been an erosion of trust between the two countries.

How to use erosion

Erosion is used both literally (geological/environmental contexts) and figuratively (describing the gradual weakening of abstract things like authority, confidence, or rights). The literal sense emphasizes physical wearing away by natural forces, while the figurative sense highlights gradual loss or decline over time.

Common phrases

soil erosion
coastal erosion
erosion of values
erosion of trust
prevent erosion
water erosion

Synonyms

wearing away · deterioration · degradation · disintegration · attrition

Opposites

accumulation · buildup

Word family

erode (verb) · eroded (adjective) · eroding (present participle)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'erosion' to mean sudden or dramatic loss rather than gradual weakening; erosion always implies a slow, continuous process, not rapid destruction.

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