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 property has been quarantined to restrict the movement of poultry and poultry products, and the birds there were depopulated to prevent the disease from spreading. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

In the wake of the peace process, however, the Ark depopulated, leaving but a few residents, who now live in fear of a new plan to flood the Lough in order to rid it of a toxic algae bloom. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Israeli troops have occupied and depopulated two-thirds of the enclave, leaving nearly all its more than 2 million residents confined to a tiny ​strip of land under Hamas control along the coast, most in makeshift tents or damaged buildings. — Steven Scheer, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026

The areas Israel controls in Gaza have been mostly destroyed and depopulated. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026

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