BusinessAugust 18, 2026

decommissioning

dee-kuh-MIH-shuh-ning

Definition

The official process of taking a facility, machine, or system, such as a nuclear reactor, out of service and deactivating or dismantling it.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 'decommission,' which combines the prefix 'de-' (meaning removal or reversal) with 'commission' (to bring into active service), originating from the Latin 'commissio' meaning a putting together or trust.

In the news

The article mentions decommissioning as part of a new licensing framework for nuclear reactors, where the government is establishing rules for how these facilities are safely shut down and retired.

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