Deafforestation

/diːæfərɛˈsteɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process or practice of removing forests from land; clearing forests.

Etymology

From 'deafforest' + '-ation' suffix, though this term is extremely rare in actual usage. Standard English uses 'deforestation' instead, showing how older or alternative word formations sometimes disappear from use.

Kelly Says

This word is almost archaic before it even became common—'deforestation' won out as the preferred term, but 'deafforestation' shows how English could theoretically build it from Latin roots!

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