decommission

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "decommission" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means to formally end the use or operation of something, such as a ship, vehicle, or machine. For example, you might say, "The old aircraft was decommissioned after forty years of service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, the terms of the minister's action had been publicly flagged since early June, when she gave the UDA a gentle warning that she would not authorise the release of funds until there was at least a statement of intent on the part of the organisation to decommission its weapons.

The Guardian - Opinion

But some observers believe President Bush's newly galvanised intolerance to terrorists, coupled with last month's arrest of three IRA suspects in Colombia, will alienate public opionion from Sinn Fein and increase pressure on republicans to decommission arms.

The Guardian

Given that the IRA is unlikely to decommission more arms, let alone disband between now and Christmas, the power-sharing coalition between unionists and nationalists will collapse after 18 January 2003 - the date of the next UUC meeting.

The Guardian

You have nothing to contribute until you end your violence and decommission.

The Guardian

Waratah Coal has already courted controversy over the project by failing to properly decommission and rehabilitate 300 exploration drill holes at the site of the proposed mine.

The Guardian

The news comes as the province's peace process enters a critical week, with the future of the assembly in doubt amid the IRA's reluctance to decommission its weapons.

The Guardian

"Sinn Fein/IRA is not going to decommission.

The Guardian

On March 31st NDA awarded a £7 billion contract to decommission 12 more of Britain's oldest reactor sites over 14 years to a consortium including Babcock, a British engineering firm, and Fluor, an American one.In this section Winding down Pressed suits Metroland spreads out Nothing sticks Great Scots!

The Economist

ONE of the arguments against Japan's new secrecy law, which the lower house of the Diet passed on November 26th, came from the chief of a company helping to decommission the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

The Economist

The precedents are good: the same imposing turrets have also served as the backdrop for talks between Israel, Egypt and America that led to the Camp David accord in 1978.In the most optimistic scenario, the jaw-jaw would hammer out guarantees from republicans that the IRA will fully decommission its weapons and wind up its racketeering.

The Economist

An American former senator, George Mitchell, prodded paramilitary groups to decommission their weapons.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decommission", be specific about what is being taken out of service. For example, "The power plant was decommissioned" is less informative than "The nuclear power plant was decommissioned due to safety concerns."

Common error

Avoid using "decommission" when the item can be easily brought back into service. "Decommission" suggests a more permanent removal than simply turning something off.

Linguistic Context

Decommission functions primarily as a verb, indicating the act of taking something out of service or rendering it unusable. Ludwig AI confirms its use in various contexts, as shown in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

23%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

26%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decommission" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb that means to take something out of service or render it unusable. Ludwig AI highlights its usage across various formal contexts, especially in news, business and encyclopedic sources. While there are several alternatives, such as "take out of service" or "render inoperable", "decommission" offers a more formal and often permanent connotation. When using "decommission", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being removed from service and that its use aligns with the formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take out of service

Focuses on the action of removing something from active duty or operation.

render inoperable

Emphasizes making something unable to function.

shut down

Implies ceasing operations, often temporarily or permanently.

close down

Similar to shut down, but can also refer to closing a business or facility.

dismantle

Focuses on taking something apart piece by piece.

mothball

Specifically refers to placing something in storage for potential future use, though it may never be reactivated.

retire

Suggests a formal removal from service, often due to age or obsolescence.

invalidate

Focuses on making something void or without effect, such as a contract or agreement.

phase out

Implies a gradual removal from service over time.

discontinue

Means to stop doing or providing something; implies a cessation.

FAQs

How to use "decommission" in a sentence?

You can use "decommission" to describe the process of taking something out of service or rendering it unusable. For example, "They decided to "take the old factory out of service"" or "The warship was "taken out of service" after many years of use".

What can I say instead of "decommission"?

You can use alternatives like "take out of service", "render inoperable", or "shut down" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "decommission" and "dismantle"?

"Decommission" means to take out of service or render unusable, while "dismantle" means to take something apart. You might decommission a power plant and then dismantle its components.

Is it correct to say "decommissioned of"?

No, it is incorrect. "Decommission" is typically used transitively (e.g., "They decommissioned the ship"). You don't usually say "decommissioned of" something.