debris

debris — noun

1. the scattered fragments of wood, metal, glass, or other material that are left b

1.nounB2
Definition

the scattered fragments of wood, metal, glass, or other material that are left behind when a building, vehicle, or natural object is destroyed, damaged, or falls apart

Example

After the earthquake, rescue workers searched through the debris for survivors.

search through debris for [people]

The storm blew the roof off the shed, leaving debris scattered across the garden.

debris scattered across [location]

Common collocations
  • clear debris
  • remove debris
  • search through debris
  • debris from [explosion / collapse / earthquake / storm]
  • debris scattered across
  • pile of debris
  • metal debris
  • building debris
Synonyms
  • rubble

    limited to broken stone, brick, or concrete from a ruined building; narrower than debris

  • wreckage

    specifically the twisted metal and broken parts of a crashed vehicle or aircraft; more specific than debris

  • fragments

    emphasises the broken-apart nature of the pieces; can be more general and includes small items not from destruction

  • ruins

    focuses on what remains of a structure standing partially upright, rather than scattered pieces

Usage Note

Uncountable — always treated as a singular mass noun. To refer to a single item, use 'a piece of debris' or 'a fragment of debris'.

Common Mistakes

After the explosion, there were many debris on the street.
After the explosion, there was a lot of debris on the street.
debris is an uncountable noun and cannot be used with 'many' or in the plural.
The debris were scattered everywhere.
The debris was scattered everywhere.
debris takes a singular verb even though it refers to many pieces.

2. objects or materials that people have thrown away or no longer want, especially

2.nounB2
Definition

objects or materials that people have thrown away or no longer want, especially when these are scattered around a place instead of being properly disposed of

Example

The riverbank was covered with plastic bottles and other debris left by visitors.

debris left by [people]

City workers collect household debris from the streets every Monday morning.

household debris

Common collocations
  • household debris
  • garden debris
  • kitchen debris
  • collect debris
  • clean up debris
  • pick up debris
  • layer of debris
  • debris left by [people]
Synonyms
  • rubbish

    more common in British English; a general term for anything thrown away

  • trash

    more common in American English; everyday term for unwanted household items

  • litter

    specifically small pieces of rubbish dropped on the ground in public places

  • waste

    the broadest term; includes anything discarded, whether scattered or in a bin

Usage Note

Like sense 1, this is uncountable. Distinguish from sense 1 (DESTROYED MATERIAL) by context: sense 1 involves accidental destruction, while this sense involves deliberate discarding or general untidiness.

Common Mistakes

Please throw these debris in the bin.
Please throw this debris in the bin.
debris is uncountable, so use 'this' not 'these'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe what is left after something is broken or destroyed, but they differ in scope. 'Debris' is the broadest term, covering any scattered fragments from a destroyed building, crashed vehicle, or natural disaster. 'Rubble' is narrower, referring specifically to broken stone, brick, and concrete from a collapsed structure. 'Wreckage' is used for the twisted, shattered remains of a vehicle or aircraft after a crash. 'Remains' is a general, slightly formal term for whatever is left behind after destruction or decay. 'Fragments' emphasises the small, broken-off pieces and can apply to objects as small as a shattered vase or as large as a collapsed wall. For everyday use, 'debris' and 'rubble' are the most practical: you would say 'researchers searched through the debris for survivors' but 'workers removed piles of rubble from the demolition site.'

rubblewreckage ↗remains ↗fragments

Common collocations

Nouns

  • pile of debris
  • layer of debris
  • piece of debris
  • fragment of debris
  • mountain of debris

Adverbs

  • debris-covered

Phrases

  • debris field
  • debris removal
  • debris clearance
  • debris flow

Prepositions

  • debris from
  • debris across
  • debris on
  • debris over

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Debris entered English in the early 1700s from French 'débris', meaning 'broken pieces' or 'rubbish'. The French word came from 'débriser', meaning 'to break apart', which was formed from 'de-' (indicating removal or reversal) and 'briser' (to break). The word originally referred to the broken remains of rocks or buildings, and over time broadened to include any scattered fragments left after destruction or discarding.