die-off

[ dahy-awf, -of ]

noun

1. a sudden, natural perishing of large numbers of a species, population, or community.

die-off

/ dī′ôf′ /

1. A sudden, severe decline in a population or community of organisms as a result of natural causes. Local die-offs can be caused by such factors as an unusual or extreme weather pattern, an outbreak of disease, or toxic algal blooms in a body of water. Widespread or global die-offs in which a species or group of species becomes extinct are generally associated with rapid climate change or other large-scale environmental dislocations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of die-off¹

First recorded in 1935–40; noun use of verb phrase die off

Idioms and Phrases

Perish one by one, as in A celibate community, the Shakers are dying off . [Late 1600s]

Example Sentences

In the winter of 2022-2023, nearly a dozen whales died off the coast of New Jersey, near the sites of several proposed wind farms.

From Science Daily

In experiments carried out on cell cultures under special conditions, over 85 % of a breast cancer cell culture died off after 72 hours while no cytotoxicity was observed for a healthy cell culture.

From Science Daily

Older, white conservatives were dying off, and non-white Americans were projected to be in the majority by 2044.

From BBC

In short, it's a scenario in which the universe continues to both expand and cool - while everything within it dies off, decays, and fades away.

From BBC

In areas where bats congregate in large groups, scientists can simply trek out to caves they’re known to frequent and count them to see if they’re dying off.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abate
• decrease
• diminish
• dwindle
• ebb
• fade
• fall back
• lessen
• reduce
• retreat
• shrink
• sink
• subside
• taper
• wane