ruin
ROO-in
/ˈruːɪn/
The physical remains of a building that has fallen into a state of decay or collapse.
While often used to describe ancient structures, 'ruin' can also refer to the process of destruction or the state of being destroyed.
The story behind the word. The word 'ruin' comes from the Latin 'ruina', which literally means 'a falling down'. It shares a root with the word 'rush', suggesting a sudden and violent collapse. In the 18th century, 'ruins' became a popular subject for Romantic painters who saw beauty in the decay of the past.
Word relationships
- remains: 'Remains' is a more neutral term, whereas 'ruin' suggests a more dramatic or tragic state of decay.
- wreckage: 'Wreckage' usually refers to the remains of a vehicle or a very recent disaster, rather than an old building.
- restoration: Restoration is the act of returning a building to its original state, the opposite of letting it become a ruin.
Commonly confused with
- debris: Debris is scattered fragments, while a ruin is the structural remains of a specific building.
Word family
- ruinous (adjective): Causing or tending to cause ruin.
- ruination (noun): The action or state of ruining or being ruined.
Collocations
- ancient ruin
- romantic ruin
- total ruin
- ruinous state
Idioms & expressions
- rack and ruin
- road to ruin
Example sentences
- "The travelers spent the afternoon wandering through the Roman ruin, imagining the lives of those who once walked its streets." Describing the remains of an ancient city.
- "The ruin of the Colosseum is a striking image of the decay of empires." A famous literary description of fallen greatness.
Memory hook
Think of a building that has 'run' into the ground—it is now a ruin. Ruin = Remains Under Intense Neglect.
When not to use
Avoid using 'ruin' for a building that is simply messy or under construction; it implies a permanent state of structural failure.
Fun facts
- In the 18th century, wealthy landowners sometimes built 'follies'—fake ruins—just to make their gardens look more ancient and romantic.
Related words
Explore more words
dilapidated, devastation, desolation, degradation, crumble, blight
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