1.
to perish, to be destroyed, to fall to ruin
For a civilization, nation, species, or entity to come to an end, be destroyed, or cease to exist entirely.
文明が滅びる。
A civilization perishes.
その王国は戦争によって滅びた。
That kingdom was destroyed by war.
環境を守らなければ、多くの生物が滅びてしまうだろう。
If we don't protect the environment, many species will likely perish.
TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞 (intransitive). Pattern: Xが滅びる.
TRANSITIVE PAIR: 滅ぼす (to destroy, to annihilate).
USAGE:
滅びる describes large-scale destruction or extinction — civilizations falling, species dying out, kingdoms collapsing. It is not used for small everyday things breaking. The word carries a literary, dramatic tone.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 国が滅びる: a country falls
- 文明が滅びる: a civilization perishes
- 種が滅びる: a species goes extinct
RELATED EXPRESSION:
滅亡する is the する-verb equivalent meaning "to perish/be annihilated," often used in news and historical writing.