depopulate

verb

de·​pop·​u·​late (ˌ)dē-ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce depopulate (audio)
depopulated; depopulating; depopulates

transitive verb

1
obsolete : ravage
2
: to reduce greatly the population of

Examples of depopulate in a Sentence

Large areas of the country had been depopulated by disease.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since 2022, nearly 22 million birds in California have been infected or depopulated as a result of the outbreak. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025 That is, unless more is done to stabilize the sector—including depopulating Citizens and encouraging private insurers to stay in the market. Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024 Factory automation and globalization, accelerated by the internet, destroyed jobs in traditional manufacturing centers, depopulating parts of the Midwest and South. Steve Lohr, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024 The 13-year civil war killed hundreds of thousands, unleashed a refugee crisis and left cities bombed to rubble, the countryside depopulated and the Syrian economy hollowed out by global sanctions. Kanishka Singh, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for depopulate 

Word History

Etymology

Latin depopulatus, past participle of depopulari, from de- + populari to ravage

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of depopulate was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near depopulate

Cite this Entry

“Depopulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depopulate. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

depopulate

verb
de·​pop·​u·​late (ˈ)dē-ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce depopulate (audio)
: to reduce greatly the population of (as a city or region) by destroying or driving away the inhabitants
depopulated by plague

More from Merriam-Webster on depopulate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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