subsidence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, technical (geology, engineering, insurance, property), occasional in news reports.
Quick answer
What does “subsidence” mean?
The gradual sinking or settling of land or a structure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The gradual sinking or settling of land or a structure.
A downward shift or collapse, often referring to geological or construction contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning, but frequency is higher in UK English due to common coverage of property issues related to clay soils and old mining areas.
Connotations
In UK, strongly associated with home insurance claims and property devaluation. In US, more often linked to mining, fracking, or coastal erosion.
Frequency
More common in UK media/property discourse; in US, 'sinkhole' or 'settling' might be used in everyday contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “subsidence” in a Sentence
subsidence of [the ground/the foundations]subsidence due to [drought/mining]subsidence caused by [X]subsidence in [area/building]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “subsidence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The clay soil will subside after a long drought.
- The building has been subsiding for decades.
American English
- The land subsided due to excessive groundwater extraction.
- The road surface subsided after the heavy rains.
adverb
British English
- The ground sank subsidently over the old mine workings.
American English
- The pavement settled subsidently after the repair.
adjective
British English
- The subsidence-related damage was excluded from the policy.
- A subsidence-prone area.
American English
- Subsidence cracks appeared in the foundation.
- The report noted subsidence activity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Property valuations must account for potential subsidence risks.
Academic
The study measured coastal subsidence rates using satellite data.
Everyday
We had to get a surveyor in because of cracks from subsidence.
Technical
Differential subsidence can compromise structural integrity.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “subsidence”
- Using 'subsidence' for a sudden collapse (use 'cave-in' or 'collapse').
- Misspelling as 'subsidence' (correct: subsidence).
- Confusing with 'subsidy' (financial aid).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often yes, but policies vary greatly. In the UK, it's a standard peril, but in high-risk areas it may be excluded or subject to a large excess.
Settlement usually refers to the expected, initial compression of soil under a new building's weight. Subsidence is often unexpected downward movement due to external factors like soil shrinkage, erosion, or human activity.
Yes, common methods include underpinning (strengthening foundations), ground injection (to stabilize soil), or managing water sources (like fixing leaks).
Not always. Minor, uniform subsidence may be cosmetic. Significant or differential subsidence (where parts sink unevenly) is serious and requires professional assessment.
The gradual sinking or settling of land or a structure.
Subsidence is usually formal, technical (geology, engineering, insurance, property), occasional in news reports. in register.
Subsidence: in British English it is pronounced /səbˈsaɪ.dəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌb.sɪ.dəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The house is suffering from subsidence.”
- “A victim of subsidence.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SUB-SIDENCE → something going UNDER (sub) and SITTING down (sidere in Latin = to settle).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE GROUND IS A SUPPORT THAT CAN WEAKEN/SINK.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best illustrates 'subsidence'?