ecocide

[ ek-uh-sahyd, ee-kuh- ]

noun

1. the destruction of large areas of the natural environment by such activity as nuclear warfare, overexploitation of resources, or dumping of harmful chemicals.

ecocide

/ ˈiːkəˌsaɪd; ˈɛkə- /

noun

1. total destruction of an area of the natural environment, esp by human agency

Other Words From

• eco·cidal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecocide¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; eco- + -cide

Example Sentences

Ecocide is not an officially recognized crime under international law, as is genocide, but activists and activists say its consequences can have similar consequences.

From Salon

Ecocide is defined by experts as a "wanton" act of destruction, carried out with "reckless disregard for damage which would be clearly excessive in relation to the social and economic benefits anticipated."

From Salon

Island nations like Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu have formally petitioned the International Criminal Court to consider ecocide a crime, and many experts draw parallels between the destruction of people and the destruction of nature, arguing that the latter is an integral part of achieving the former.

From Salon

For its part, WaterAid urged the government to take "immediate action to end the ecocide", while the state water utility warned that Ghana risked becoming an importer of water by 2030 if the illegal mining was not curbed.

From BBC

Mercury is increasingly being used to extract gold by miners digging on a massive scale in forests and farms, degrading land and polluting rivers to such an extent that the charity WaterAid has called it "ecocide".

From BBC