depopulate

[ verb dee-pop-yuh-leyt; adjective dee-pop-yuh-lit, -leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·pop·u·lat·ed, de·pop·u·lat·ing.

1. to remove or reduce the population of, as by destruction or expulsion.

adjective

1. Archaic. depopulated.

depopulate

/ dɪˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to be or cause to be reduced in population

Derived Forms

• deˌpopuˈlation, noun

Other Words From

• de·popu·lation noun
• de·popu·lative adjective
• de·popu·lator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of depopulate¹

1525–35; < Latin dēpopulātus devastated (past participle of dēpopulārī ), equivalent to dē- de- + populātus; populate

Example Sentences

Despite Israel’s assurances, many Gazans fear that it aims to depopulate the north of the strip and turn it into a closed military zone or a Jewish settlement.

From BBC

Since 2021, hundreds of U.S. poultry farms have had to “depopulate” millions of birds after becoming infected, presumably from sick, migrating wild birds.

From Los Angeles Times

In general, Canada — like Ireland, where the fertility rate is about 1.77, higher than in Canada but still below replacement — faces a choice: Either take in migrants or depopulate.

From Seattle Times

Instead, he said, it wants to "depopulate Palestinian territories from Gaza to Egypt and, in case the conflict escalates, from the West Bank to Jordan."

From Reuters

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has faced protests in Yerevan calling for him to resign over Karabakh, said the government had prepared space for a possible flow of displaced people into Armenia but that it did not want to depopulate Karabakh.

From Reuters

Related Words

• annihilate
• butcher
• decimate
• exterminate
• murder
• slaughter
• slay