What does sinkhole mean?
A sinkhole is a hole or depression in the ground created when the material beneath the surface collapses. These formations are especially associated with areas where underground limestone, gypsum, clay, or other soluble or weak material has been gradually removed, leaving unsupported ground above. Some sinkholes form suddenly and can be large enough to damage roads, buildings, and utilities, while others develop gradually and may fill with water. The word is also used more broadly for sudden collapses that open cavities in the ground, including collapses associated with underground mining. In general usage, “sinkhole” conveys both the physical feature and the suddenness of the event that produced it. It is distinct from a pothole, which is usually a smaller defect worn into a road surface rather than a large collapse of the underlying ground.
nounA large hole or depression in the ground formed when the ground beneath the surface collapses, often due to the removal or dissolution of underground material such as limestone or clay. The term is also used more broadly for sudden collapses that open cavities in the ground.
- A large hole or depression in the ground caused by the collapse of underlying soil or rock.
- A sudden collapse of ground that creates a cavity or opening at the surface.
"The road was closed after a massive sinkhole opened beneath it."
"Residents evacuated their homes after a sinkhole swallowed part of the street."
"The geologists used maps and measurements to study the sinkhole's possible causes."
The regular plural is used for individual collapse features; in the sense of an event or incident, “sinkholes” can also refer to multiple occurrences.
"The region has experienced several sinkholes over the past decade."
A sinkhole can turn an apparently solid landscape into a sudden void, swallowing roads, buildings, and anything else in its path.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sinkhole come from?
“Sinkhole” is a compound formed from “sink” and “hole.” Both elements are older English words: “sink” derives from Old English “sincan,” meaning to sink or go beneath the surface, while “hole” comes from Old English “hol,” meaning a hollow or opening. The compound entered general English usage as a name for a cavity or collapse in the ground.
Related word forms
How sinkhole is actually used
The word is used in both British and American English. In geomorphology and engineering, it commonly refers specifically to a collapse feature in soluble ground such as limestone, although it is often used more broadly for any sudden ground-collapse cavity.
Easily confused with sinkhole
A sinkhole is a large collapse of the ground, whereas a pothole is typically a smaller depression or hole formed in a road surface by wear or erosion.