Debris is the scattered pieces and fragments left behind after something has been destroyed, broken apart, or worn down. After a hurricane passes through a town, debris like broken tree branches, roof shingles, and splintered boards might litter the streets. When a building is demolished, workers must clear away the concrete debris before construction of something new can begin.

Debris describes the wreckage or remains of just about anything that's been broken up. You might find debris from a crashed drone in your backyard, or space debris (old satellite parts and rocket fragments) orbiting Earth. After a parade, street sweepers clean up debris like confetti, candy wrappers, and dropped programs.

Debris can be natural too. Rockslides leave debris scattered across mountain roads. Ocean currents wash debris like driftwood, seaweed, and shells onto beaches. Sometimes archaeologists study ancient debris from old civilizations, discovering what people ate and how they lived by examining broken pottery and discarded tools.

The word suggests randomness and disorder. Things aren't neatly broken; they're scattered and jumbled. Whether it's the debris field from an airplane crash that investigators must carefully examine, or just the debris of torn wrapping paper after your birthday party, the word captures that messy aftermath when something whole has become many pieces.