Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "lalacewa" shine haifar da lalacewa ko lalacewa ga wani abu. Kalma ce mai jujjuyawa wacce ke nufin wargajewa, rugujewa, ruguza, ko kawar da wani abu gaba daya. Ana amfani da kalmar “lalacewa” a cikin yanayi na yaƙi, tashin hankali, ko bala’o’i, inda ake yin asarar rayuka ko dukiyoyi. Hakanan za'a iya amfani da shi ta ma'ana ta alama don bayyana aikin rushe ra'ayi ko tsarin imani.