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.
The Palisades nuclear power plant, located on Lake Michigan and decommissioned after 40 years of operation in 2022, is now getting a new lease of life after energy company Holtec International is working to restore it to active operation status. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 Originally constructed in the 1860s to house two battalions of the British Army, Chelsea Barracks served as an important military base for more than 140 years before being decommissioned in 2008. — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026 In the short teaser shown at D23, Gosling’s pilot character Kade Auberon finds a young man playing with a star fighter jet that’s decommissioned but was known as the fastest ever built. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 Though Hamas accepted the plan to decommission its weapons, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in recent days that Israel would not withdraw until Hamas has completely disarmed. — Matthew Lee, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for decommission

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Browse Nearby Words

decolorizer
decommission
decommitment
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Cite this Entry

“Decommission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decommission. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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