decommission

verb

de·​com·​mis·​sion ˌdē-kə-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce decommission (audio)
decommissioned; decommissioning; decommissions

transitive verb

: to remove (something, such as a ship or a nuclear power plant) from service

Examples of decommission in a Sentence

Several military bases are scheduled to be decommissioned. The government is decommissioning the nuclear power plant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This initiative not only streamlined operations for AWS but also set a precedent for how legacy systems can be decommissioned in a way that minimizes disruption for customers. Tyler Shepherd, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 The work might represent the last major overhaul for the 30-year-old warship, which the Navy says could be decommissioned in 2028. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025 That includes decommissioning many miles of logging roads, removing mine tailings and sowing tens of thousands of native plants. Alyssa Kreikemeier, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025 The discovery is all the more surprising given the U.S.S. Nevada was decommissioned and uncrewed when towed 65 nautical miles southeast of Pearl Harbor and intentionally sunk in 1948. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decommission

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decommission was in 1922

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decommission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decommission. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

decommission

verb
de·​com·​mis·​sion ˌdē-kə-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce decommission (audio)
: to remove (as a ship) from use or service

More from Merriam-Webster on decommission

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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