deindustrialization

noun

de·​in·​dus·​tri·​al·​i·​za·​tion (ˌ)dē-in-ˌdə-strē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce deindustrialization (audio)
: the reduction or destruction of a nation's or region's industrial capacity
deindustrialize
(ˌ)dē-in-ˈdə-strē-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce deindustrialization (audio)
verb

Examples of deindustrialization in a Sentence

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 unsettled partisan lines around this issue have allowed anger, rooted in decades of deindustrialization and public austerity, to flourish in the electorate. — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 The costs could include deindustrialization, rising debt, and weaker growth. — Michael Pettis, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026 Urban policy focused on attracting residents and investment back to places hollowed out by suburbanization and deindustrialization. — Brandon Marc Finn, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026 The decline in businesses is connected to widespread job loss tied to deindustrialization, and major retailers have cited crime and thin profit margins as reasons for exiting the neighborhood. — April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deindustrialization

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deindustrialization was in 1940

Rhymes for deindustrialization

See All Rhymes for deindustrialization

Browse Nearby Words

deindividualize
deindustrialization
Deinocephalia
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Cite this Entry

“Deindustrialization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deindustrialization. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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