The most widely accepted of these is that of the Princeton University Dictionary which defines it as "the process of fertile land transforming into desert typically as a result of deforestation, drought or improper/inappropriate agriculture".
Den mest generelt accepterede defintion blandt disse er den af Princeton University formulerede: "en proces, hvor frugtbar jord ændres til ørken typisk som et resultat af skovning, tørke eller forkert/uhensigtsmæssigt landbrug."