depersonalization
noun
de·per·son·al·i·za·tion
(ˌ)dē-ˌpər-snə-lə-ˈzā-shən 
-ˌpər-sə-nə-lə-
1
a
: an act or process of depersonalizing
b
: the quality or state of being depersonalized
2
: a psychopathological syndrome characterized by loss of identity and feelings of unreality and strangeness about one's own behavior
Examples of depersonalization in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The symptoms that social media users are describing might overlap with seasonal affective disorder, depersonalization or the long-term effects of past trauma, Fisher said.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The other half attributed their loss to a psychiatric cause—depersonalization syndrome, depression.
—Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2025
Physician burnout is a long-term stress reaction identified by three main factors: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
This shift is sparking fears about job loss, skill obsolescence, and depersonalization.
—Kathy Caprino, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for depersonalization
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.
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The other half attributed their loss to a psychiatric cause—depersonalization syndrome, depression.
—Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2025
Physician burnout is a long-term stress reaction identified by three main factors: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
This shift is sparking fears about job loss, skill obsolescence, and depersonalization.
—Kathy Caprino, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for depersonalization
Cite this Entry
“Depersonalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depersonalization. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
depersonalization
noun
de·per·son·al·iza·tion
variants
or British depersonalisation
: the act or process of causing or the state resulting from loss of the sense of personal identity
especially
: a psychopathological syndrome characterized by loss of identity and feelings of unreality or strangeness about one's own behavior
depersonalize
transitive verb
or British depersonalise
depersonalized or British depersonalised; depersonalizing or British depersonalising
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share