depopulate

verb

de·​pop·​u·​late (ˌ)dē-ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 

depopulated; depopulating; depopulates

transitive verb

1

obsolete : ravage

2

: to reduce greatly the population of

depopulation

(ˌ)dē-ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

Examples of depopulate in a Sentence

Large areas of the country had been depopulated by disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

The options the state gave us was to test every bird on the farm or depopulate. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026

There are federal agencies that Trump is in the process of shutting down and others that have been defunded and depopulated. —Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

Farms with infected turkeys are directed by the USDA to depopulate, or kill, the infected animals because of how highly contagious the disease is. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025

The nonprofit is working to reinvigorate depopulating rural municipalities by establishing coworking and coliving hubs in partnership with the community—then hosting travelers for stays of two weeks to two months. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin depopulatus, past participle of depopulari, from de- + populari to ravage

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for depopulate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

depopulate

verb

de·​pop·​u·​late (ˈ)dē-ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt 

: to reduce greatly the population of (as a city or region) by destroying or driving away the inhabitants

depopulated by plague

depopulation

(ˌ)dē-ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən 

noun