desertification
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. It represents a significant environmental challenge where land loses its biological productivity and ability to support human life.
Examples
3 of 5Many farmers are struggling because desertification is making it impossible to grow crops on their land.
A lot of agricultural workers are having a hard time because the land is turning into desert, preventing crop growth.
The international community must unite to implement strategies that mitigate the effects of desertification in vulnerable regions.
Global leaders need to work together to apply plans that reduce the impact of land turning into desert in at-risk areas.
It is honestly terrifying to see how fast desertification is spreading across the northern part of the country.
It is really scary to observe the rapid speed at which fertile land is becoming desert in the north.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember 'Desert' + 'ification'. One 's' for 'sand'. The suffix '-ification' always means 'the process of making something into'.
Quick Quiz
Over-farming and a lack of rain have led to the _____ of what was once productive farmland.
Correct!
The correct answer is: desertification
Examples
Many farmers are struggling because desertification is making it impossible to grow crops on their land.
everydayA lot of agricultural workers are having a hard time because the land is turning into desert, preventing crop growth.
The international community must unite to implement strategies that mitigate the effects of desertification in vulnerable regions.
formalGlobal leaders need to work together to apply plans that reduce the impact of land turning into desert in at-risk areas.
It is honestly terrifying to see how fast desertification is spreading across the northern part of the country.
informalIt is really scary to observe the rapid speed at which fertile land is becoming desert in the north.
Quantitative studies suggest that overgrazing and poor irrigation practices are the primary catalysts for desertification in the Sahel.
academicResearch data shows that too much livestock grazing and bad watering methods are the main causes of land degradation in the Sahel.
The corporation’s environmental impact assessment identified desertification as a major risk to its long-term supply chain stability.
businessThe company's green report found that land becoming desert is a big threat to the reliability of its future supplies.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
halt desertification
stop the process of land degradation immediately
vulnerable to desertification
at high risk of turning into a desert
drivers of desertification
the main causes or factors behind land degradation
Often Confused With
Deforestation is the removal of trees; desertification is the broader process of fertile land becoming barren and desert-like.
Desertion is the act of illegally leaving the armed forces or abandoning a person; desertification is strictly an environmental term.
Usage Notes
The word is almost exclusively used in ecological, scientific, and political contexts regarding environmental protection. It is an uncountable noun.
Common Mistakes
Learners often spell it with two 's' characters (dessertification), but it comes from 'desert' (sand), not 'dessert' (sweet food).
Memory Tip
Remember 'Desert' + 'ification'. One 's' for 'sand'. The suffix '-ification' always means 'the process of making something into'.
Word Origin
Formed from the word 'desert' (from Latin desertus, meaning abandoned/waste) combined with the Latin-derived suffix '-ification' (making into).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The word is frequently discussed in relation to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the environmental challenges faced by African and Central Asian nations.
Quick Quiz
Over-farming and a lack of rain have led to the _____ of what was once productive farmland.
Correct!
The correct answer is: desertification
Related Vocabulary
A biological community of interacting organisms and their ph...
droughtA drought is a prolonged period of time characterized by a l...
sustainabilitySustainability is the quality of being able to continue over...
deforestationDeforestation is the permanent removal or clearing of forest...
irrigationTo supply land or crops with water through man-made systems...
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