Debris — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /də-ˈbrē/ de·bris

Meaning & Definition of Debris

Debris (noun)

  1. the remains of something broken down or destroyed
  2. an accumulation of fragments of rock
  3. something discarded, rubbish

Debris (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. discarded or useless material

    "the unsightly debris left after mining operations had ceased"

    similar: chaff, deadwood, dreck, dross, dust, effluvium, garbage, junk, litter, offal, offscouring, raffle, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, spilth, trash, truck, waste
    related: crud, sewage, slop, swill, wash, detritus, remains, rubble, ruins, dump, scrap heap, lumber, odds and ends, trumpery, flotsam, jetsam, wreckage, castoff, cull, discard, hand-me-down, reject, throwaway, nothing, straw, two bits
    near: catch, gem, goody, jewel, pearl, plum, prize, treasure, treasure trove, trove, valuable, booty, find, salvage

  2. the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed

    "the demolition workers cleared away all of the debris from the demolished building"

    similar: ashes, detritus, flotsam, remains, residue, rubble, ruins, wreck, wreckage
    related: jetsam, leavings, remnant, chaff, deadwood, dross, dust, garbage, junk, litter, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Debris

The most common words with a similar meaning to Debris:

chaff, deadwood, dreck, dross, dust, effluvium, garbage, junk, litter, offal, offscouring, raffle, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, spilth, trash, truck, waste, ashes, detritus, flotsam, remains, residue, rubble, ruins, wreck, wreckage

Related Words for Debris

crud, sewage, slop, swill, wash, dump, scrap heap, lumber, odds and ends, trumpery, jetsam, castoff, cull, discard, hand-me-down, reject, throwaway, nothing, straw, two bits, leavings, remnant

Near Antonyms of Debris

catch, gem, goody, jewel, pearl, plum, prize, treasure, treasure trove, trove, valuable, booty, find, salvage

Origin & Etymology of Debris

French débris, from Middle French, from debriser to break to pieces, from Old French debrisier, from de- + brisier to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish brisid he breaks; perhaps akin to Latin fricare to rub friction

First known use: 1708

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Debris

Frequently Asked Questions about Debris

What does "Debris" mean?

"Debris" means the remains of something broken down or destroyed. As a noun, it is defined as: the remains of something broken down or destroyed. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Debris"?

Other words for "Debris" include chaff, deadwood, dreck, dross, dust, effluvium, garbage and junk. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Debris" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Debris"?

There are 51 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Debris". Common alternatives include chaff, deadwood, dreck, dross, dust, effluvium, garbage, junk, litter and offal.

How do you use "Debris" in a sentence?

Examples of "Debris" in a sentence: "the unsightly debris left after mining operations had ceased"; "the demolition workers cleared away all of the debris from the demolished building".

Is "Debris" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Debris" is a noun.

Is "Debris" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Debris" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Debris"?

"Debris" is pronounced /də-ˈbrē/ and divided into syllables as de·bris.

What is the origin of the word "Debris"?

"Debris" comes from French débris, from Middle French, from debriser to break to pieces, from Old French debrisier, from de- + brisier to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish brisid he breaks; perhaps akin to Latin fricare to rub friction. First known use: 1708.