depersonalize

[ dee-pur-suh-nl-ahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, de·per·son·al·ized, de·per·son·al·iz·ing.

1. to make impersonal.
2. to deprive of personality or individuality:

   a mechanistic society that is depersonalizing its members.

depersonalize

/ dɪˈpɜːsnəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to deprive (a person, organization, system, etc) of individual or personal qualities; render impersonal
2. to cause (someone) to lose his sense of personal identity

Word History and Origins

Origin of depersonalize¹

First recorded in 1865–70; de- + personalize

Word History and Origins

Origin of depersonalize¹

C19: from de- + personal + -ize

Example Sentences

But history also shows us what happens when we dehumanize, depersonalize.

From Salon

Dotting the history of fast-food are numerous examples of both corporate leaders and franchise owners steering their restaurants towards providing ostensibly more streamlined, though increasingly depersonalized, experiences.

From Salon

Staging can be as simple as decluttering and depersonalizing a house while you’re still living there.

From Seattle Times

“Burnout has that quality but is also being very cynical and discouraged and depersonalizing things and really losing your sense of accomplishment, which is a much more dark place to be.”

From Scientific American

“It depersonalized and dehumanized radio because suddenly you had one programmer programming multiple stations across the country,” McNeill said.

From Los Angeles Times