depreciation

noun

di-ˌprē-shē-ˈā-shən 

1

: the act of making a person or thing seem less valuable : the act of depreciating

depreciation of the role of art in school

2

: a decrease in the value of something (as due to deterioration or obsolescence)

specifically : a decrease in the value of property (such as machinery) for the purpose of taxation that is carried as a yearly charge amortizing the original cost over the useful life of the property

Examples of depreciation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Note that the Packers’ operating loss does include tens of millions of dollars in non-cash charges tied to depreciation. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026

The company said Peacock’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was $189 million. — Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Airlines must also provide compensation for the bag's contents if it is declared lost, according to the Department of Transportation, though the latter is subject to depreciation. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 21 July 2026

There’s a bit of self-depreciation there with a nod to Shannon’s beloved Spanx. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for depreciation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

depreciation

noun

de·​pre·​ci·​a·​tion

di-ˌprē-shē-ˈā-shən

1

: a decline in the purchasing power or exchange value of money

2

: the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant : disparagement

3

: a decline (as from age or wear and tear) in the value of something

Legal Definition

depreciation

noun

de·​pre·​ci·​a·​tion di-ˌprē-shē-ˈā-shən 

1

: any decrease in the value of property (as machinery) for the purpose of taxation that cannot be offset by current repairs and is carried on company books as a yearly charge amortizing the original cost over the useful life of the property

— accelerated depreciation

: the depreciation of property that was put into use prior to 1980 which is allowed at a faster rate than normal under the depreciation rules in force before the adoption of the Accelerated Cost Recovery System

— straight-line depreciation

: depreciation of an asset by a fixed percentage of its original cost based on its estimated life

2

: a loss in the value of property due to physical deterioration and wear or to obsolescence and lack of adaptability